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(-) Remove <label class='research-domain' title='Neurosciences and Neural Disorders'>LS5 (9)</label> filter LS5 (9)
Project acronym ArcheoDyn
Project Globular clusters as living fossils of the past of galaxies
Researcher (PI) Petrus VAN DE VEN
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSITAT WIEN
Summary Globular clusters (GCs) are enigmatic objects that hide a wealth of information. They are the living fossils of the history of their native galaxies and the record keepers of the violent events that made them change their domicile. This proposal aims to mine GCs as living fossils of galaxy evolution to address fundamental questions in astrophysics: (1) Do satellite galaxies merge as predicted by the hierarchical build-up of galaxies? (2) Which are the seeds of supermassive black holes in the centres of galaxies? (3) How did star formation originate in the earliest phases of galaxy formation? To answer these questions, novel population-dependent dynamical modelling techniques are required, whose development the PI has led over the past years. This uniquely positions him to take full advantage of the emerging wealth of chemical and kinematical data on GCs. Following the tidal disruption of satellite galaxies, their dense GCs, and maybe even their nuclei, are left as the most visible remnants in the main galaxy. The hierarchical build-up of their new host galaxy can thus be unearthed by recovering the GCs' orbits. However, currently it is unclear which of the GCs are accretion survivors. Actually, the existence of a central intermediate mass black hole (IMBH) or of multiple stellar populations in GCs might tell which ones are accreted. At the same time, detection of IMBHs is important as they are predicted seeds for supermassive black holes in galaxies; while the multiple stellar populations in GCs are vital witnesses to the extreme modes of star formation in the early Universe. However, for every putative dynamical IMBH detection so far there is a corresponding non-detection; also the origin of multiple stellar populations in GCs still lacks any uncontrived explanation. The synergy of novel techniques and exquisite data proposed here promises a breakthrough in this emerging field of dynamical archeology with GCs as living fossils of the past of galaxies.
Globular clusters (GCs) are enigmatic objects that hide a wealth of information. They are the living fossils of the history of their native galaxies and the record keepers of the violent events that made them change their domicile. This proposal aims to mine GCs as living fossils of galaxy evolution to address fundamental questions in astrophysics: (1) Do satellite galaxies merge as predicted by the hierarchical build-up of galaxies? (2) Which are the seeds of supermassive black holes in the centres of galaxies? (3) How did star formation originate in the earliest phases of galaxy formation? To answer these questions, novel population-dependent dynamical modelling techniques are required, whose development the PI has led over the past years. This uniquely positions him to take full advantage of the emerging wealth of chemical and kinematical data on GCs. Following the tidal disruption of satellite galaxies, their dense GCs, and maybe even their nuclei, are left as the most visible remnants in the main galaxy. The hierarchical build-up of their new host galaxy can thus be unearthed by recovering the GCs' orbits. However, currently it is unclear which of the GCs are accretion survivors. Actually, the existence of a central intermediate mass black hole (IMBH) or of multiple stellar populations in GCs might tell which ones are accreted. At the same time, detection of IMBHs is important as they are predicted seeds for supermassive black holes in galaxies; while the multiple stellar populations in GCs are vital witnesses to the extreme modes of star formation in the early Universe. However, for every putative dynamical IMBH detection so far there is a corresponding non-detection; also the origin of multiple stellar populations in GCs still lacks any uncontrived explanation. The synergy of novel techniques and exquisite data proposed here promises a breakthrough in this emerging field of dynamical archeology with GCs as living fossils of the past of galaxies.
Project acronym CeMoMagneto
Project The Cellular and Molecular Basis of Magnetoreception
Researcher (PI) David Anthony Keays
Host Institution (HI) FORSCHUNGSINSTITUT FUR MOLEKULARE PATHOLOGIE GESELLSCHAFT MBH
Summary Each year millions of animals undertake remarkable migratory journeys, across oceans and through hemispheres, guided by the Earth's magnetic field. The cellular and molecular basis of this enigmatic sense, known as magnetoreception, remains an unsolved scientific mystery. One hypothesis that attempts to explain the basis of this sensory faculty is known as the magnetite theory of magnetoreception. It argues that magnetic information is transduced into a neuronal impulse by employing the iron oxide magnetite (Fe3O4). Current evidence indicates that pigeons employ a magnetoreceptor that is associated with the ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve and the vestibular system, but the sensory cells remain undiscovered. The goal of this ambitious proposal is to discover the cells and molecules that mediate magnetoreception. This overall objective can be divided into three specific aims: (1) the identification of putative magnetoreceptive cells (PMCs); (2) the cellular characterisation of PMCs; and (3) the discovery and functional ablation of molecules specific to PMCs. In tackling these three aims this proposal adopts a reductionist mindset, employing and developing the latest imaging, subcellular, and molecular technologies.
Each year millions of animals undertake remarkable migratory journeys, across oceans and through hemispheres, guided by the Earth's magnetic field. The cellular and molecular basis of this enigmatic sense, known as magnetoreception, remains an unsolved scientific mystery. One hypothesis that attempts to explain the basis of this sensory faculty is known as the magnetite theory of magnetoreception. It argues that magnetic information is transduced into a neuronal impulse by employing the iron oxide magnetite (Fe3O4). Current evidence indicates that pigeons employ a magnetoreceptor that is associated with the ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve and the vestibular system, but the sensory cells remain undiscovered. The goal of this ambitious proposal is to discover the cells and molecules that mediate magnetoreception. This overall objective can be divided into three specific aims: (1) the identification of putative magnetoreceptive cells (PMCs); (2) the cellular characterisation of PMCs; and (3) the discovery and functional ablation of molecules specific to PMCs. In tackling these three aims this proposal adopts a reductionist mindset, employing and developing the latest imaging, subcellular, and molecular technologies.
Project acronym CRYTERION
Project Cryogenic Traps for Entanglement Research with Ions
Researcher (PI) Rainer Blatt
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSITAET INNSBRUCK
Summary Quantum computers offer a fundamentally new way of information processing. Within the scope of this proposal, quantum information processing with an ion trap quantum computer will be investigated. With the new combination of cryogenic technology and ion traps for quantum computing we intend to build a quantum information processor with strings of up to 50 ions and with two-dimensional ion arrays for an investigation of deterministic many-particle entanglement. The cryogenic traps will be applied for quantum simulations, for fundamental investigations concerning large-scale entanglement and for precision measurements enhanced by quantum metrology techniques employing entangled particles.
Quantum computers offer a fundamentally new way of information processing. Within the scope of this proposal, quantum information processing with an ion trap quantum computer will be investigated. With the new combination of cryogenic technology and ion traps for quantum computing we intend to build a quantum information processor with strings of up to 50 ions and with two-dimensional ion arrays for an investigation of deterministic many-particle entanglement. The cryogenic traps will be applied for quantum simulations, for fundamental investigations concerning large-scale entanglement and for precision measurements enhanced by quantum metrology techniques employing entangled particles.
Project acronym ERQUAF
Project Entanglement and Renormalisation for Quantum Fields
Researcher (PI) Jutho Jan J HAEGEMAN
Summary Over the past fifteen years, the paradigm of quantum entanglement has revolutionised the understanding of strongly correlated lattice systems. Entanglement and closely related concepts originating from quantum information theory are optimally suited for quantifying and characterising quantum correlations and have therefore proven instrumental for the classification of the exotic phases discovered in condensed quantum matter. One groundbreaking development originating from this research is a novel class of variational many body wave functions known as tensor network states. Their explicit local structure and unique entanglement features make them very flexible and extremely powerful both as a numerical simulation method and as a theoretical tool. The goal of this proposal is to lift this "entanglement methodology" into the realm of quantum field theory. In high energy physics, the widespread interest in entanglement has only been triggered recently due to the intriguing connections between entanglement and the structure of spacetime that arise in black hole physics and quantum gravity. During the past few years, direct continuum limits of various tensor network ansätze have been formulated. However, the application thereof is largely unexplored territory and holds promising potential. This proposal formulates several advancements and developments for the theoretical and computational study of continuous quantum systems, gauge theories and exotic quantum phases, but also for establishing the intricate relation between entanglement, renormalisation and geometry in the context of the holographic principle. Ultimately, these developments will radically alter the way in which to approach some of the most challenging questions in physics, ranging from the simulation of cold atom systems to non-equilibrium or high-density situations in quantum chromodynamics and the standard model.
Over the past fifteen years, the paradigm of quantum entanglement has revolutionised the understanding of strongly correlated lattice systems. Entanglement and closely related concepts originating from quantum information theory are optimally suited for quantifying and characterising quantum correlations and have therefore proven instrumental for the classification of the exotic phases discovered in condensed quantum matter. One groundbreaking development originating from this research is a novel class of variational many body wave functions known as tensor network states. Their explicit local structure and unique entanglement features make them very flexible and extremely powerful both as a numerical simulation method and as a theoretical tool. The goal of this proposal is to lift this "entanglement methodology" into the realm of quantum field theory. In high energy physics, the widespread interest in entanglement has only been triggered recently due to the intriguing connections between entanglement and the structure of spacetime that arise in black hole physics and quantum gravity. During the past few years, direct continuum limits of various tensor network ansätze have been formulated. However, the application thereof is largely unexplored territory and holds promising potential. This proposal formulates several advancements and developments for the theoretical and computational study of continuous quantum systems, gauge theories and exotic quantum phases, but also for establishing the intricate relation between entanglement, renormalisation and geometry in the context of the holographic principle. Ultimately, these developments will radically alter the way in which to approach some of the most challenging questions in physics, ranging from the simulation of cold atom systems to non-equilibrium or high-density situations in quantum chromodynamics and the standard model.
Project acronym FRU CIRCUIT
Project Neural basis of Drosophila mating behaviours
Researcher (PI) Barry Dickson
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), LS5, ERC-2008-AdG
Summary How does information processing in neural circuits generate behaviour? Answering this question requires identifying each of the distinct neuronal types that contributes to a behaviour, defining their anatomy and connectivity, and establishing causal relationships between their activity, the activity of other neurons in the circuit, and the behaviour. Here, I propose such an analysis of the neural circuits that guide Drosophila mating behaviours. The distinct mating behaviours of males and females are genetically pre-programmed, yet can also be modified by experience. The set of ~2000 neurons that express the fru gene have been intimately linked to both male and female mating behaviours. This set of neurons includes specific sensory, central, and motor neurons, at least some of which are directly connected. Male-specific fruM isoforms configure this circuit developmentally for male rather than female behaviour. In females, mating triggers a biochemical cascade that reconfigures the circuit for post-mating rather than virgin female behaviour. We estimate that there are ~100 distinct classes of fru neuron. Using genetic and optical tools, we aim to identify each distinct class of fru neuron and to define its anatomy and connectivity. By silencing or activating specific neurons, or changing their genetic sex, we will assess their contributions to male and female behaviours, and how these perturbations impinge on activity patterns in other fru neurons. We also aim to define how a specific experience can modify the physiological properties of these circuits, and how these changes in turn modulate mating behaviour. These studies will define the operating principles of these neural circuits, contributing to a molecules-to-systems explanation of Drosophila s mating behaviours.
How does information processing in neural circuits generate behaviour? Answering this question requires identifying each of the distinct neuronal types that contributes to a behaviour, defining their anatomy and connectivity, and establishing causal relationships between their activity, the activity of other neurons in the circuit, and the behaviour. Here, I propose such an analysis of the neural circuits that guide Drosophila mating behaviours. The distinct mating behaviours of males and females are genetically pre-programmed, yet can also be modified by experience. The set of ~2000 neurons that express the fru gene have been intimately linked to both male and female mating behaviours. This set of neurons includes specific sensory, central, and motor neurons, at least some of which are directly connected. Male-specific fruM isoforms configure this circuit developmentally for male rather than female behaviour. In females, mating triggers a biochemical cascade that reconfigures the circuit for post-mating rather than virgin female behaviour. We estimate that there are ~100 distinct classes of fru neuron. Using genetic and optical tools, we aim to identify each distinct class of fru neuron and to define its anatomy and connectivity. By silencing or activating specific neurons, or changing their genetic sex, we will assess their contributions to male and female behaviours, and how these perturbations impinge on activity patterns in other fru neurons. We also aim to define how a specific experience can modify the physiological properties of these circuits, and how these changes in turn modulate mating behaviour. These studies will define the operating principles of these neural circuits, contributing to a molecules-to-systems explanation of Drosophila s mating behaviours.
Project acronym GENDEVOCORTEX
Project Genetic links between development and evolution of the human cerebral cortex
Researcher (PI) Pierre Vanderhaeghen
Summary "The mechanisms underlying the evolution of the human brain constitute one of the most fascinating unresolved questions of biology. The cerebral cortex has evolved rapidly in size and complexity in the hominid lineage, which is likely linked to quantitative and qualitative divergence in patterns of cortical development. On the other hand, comparative genomics has revealed recently the existence of a number of ""hominid-specific"" genes, which constitute attractive candidates to underlie critical aspects of human brain evolution, but their function remains essentially unexplored, mostly because of the lack of appropriate experimental systems. Here we propose to test a simple and radical hypothesis: that key species-specific features of the development of the human cerebral cortex, in particular the generation and differentiation of pyramidal neurons, are linked functionally to the emergence of hominid-specific (HS) genes controlling corticogenesis. To achieve this high risk / high gain goal, we will first determine which HS genes are expressed in the human developing cortex in vivo, using a combination of genome-wide and in situ gene detection analyses, in order to select those most likely to impact corticogenesis. The function of candidate HS genes will be determined using innovative models of human corticogenesis based on pluripotent stem cells, developed recently in our laboratory, as well as ex vivo cultures of human fetal cortex. In addition, the developmental and evolutionary impact of HS genes will be examined in a non-hominid context, the mouse embryonic cortex. By identifying the function of hominid-specific genes in cortical developpment, we will uncover specific genetic mechanisms linking functionally the development and evolution of the human brain, with broad implications in neurobiology, developmental and evolutionary biology."
"The mechanisms underlying the evolution of the human brain constitute one of the most fascinating unresolved questions of biology. The cerebral cortex has evolved rapidly in size and complexity in the hominid lineage, which is likely linked to quantitative and qualitative divergence in patterns of cortical development. On the other hand, comparative genomics has revealed recently the existence of a number of ""hominid-specific"" genes, which constitute attractive candidates to underlie critical aspects of human brain evolution, but their function remains essentially unexplored, mostly because of the lack of appropriate experimental systems. Here we propose to test a simple and radical hypothesis: that key species-specific features of the development of the human cerebral cortex, in particular the generation and differentiation of pyramidal neurons, are linked functionally to the emergence of hominid-specific (HS) genes controlling corticogenesis. To achieve this high risk / high gain goal, we will first determine which HS genes are expressed in the human developing cortex in vivo, using a combination of genome-wide and in situ gene detection analyses, in order to select those most likely to impact corticogenesis. The function of candidate HS genes will be determined using innovative models of human corticogenesis based on pluripotent stem cells, developed recently in our laboratory, as well as ex vivo cultures of human fetal cortex. In addition, the developmental and evolutionary impact of HS genes will be examined in a non-hominid context, the mouse embryonic cortex. By identifying the function of hominid-specific genes in cortical developpment, we will uncover specific genetic mechanisms linking functionally the development and evolution of the human brain, with broad implications in neurobiology, developmental and evolutionary biology."
Project acronym HOLOBHC
Project Holography for realistic black holes and cosmologies
Researcher (PI) Geoffrey Gaston Joseph Jean-Vincent Compère
Summary String theory provides with a consistent framework which combines quantum mechanics and gravity. Two grand challenges of fundamental physics - building realistic models of black holes and cosmologies - can be addressed in this framework thanks to novel holographic methods. Recent astrophysical evidence indicates that some black holes rotate extremely fast, as close as 98% to the extremality bound. No quantum gravity model for such black holes has been formulated so far. My first objective is building the first model in string theory of an extremal black hole. Taking on this challenge is made possible thanks to recent advances in a remarkable duality known as the gauge/gravity correspondence. If successful, this program will pave the way to a description of quantum gravity effects that have been conjectured to occur close to the horizon of very fast rotating black holes. Supernovae detection has established that our universe is starting a phase of accelerated expansion. This brings a pressing need to better understand still enigmatic features of de Sitter spacetime that models our universe at late times. My second objective is to derive new universal properties of the cosmological horizon of de Sitter spacetime using tools inspired from the gauge/gravity correspondence. These results will contribute to understand its remarkable entropy, which, according to the standard model of cosmology, bounds the entropy of our observable universe.
String theory provides with a consistent framework which combines quantum mechanics and gravity. Two grand challenges of fundamental physics - building realistic models of black holes and cosmologies - can be addressed in this framework thanks to novel holographic methods. Recent astrophysical evidence indicates that some black holes rotate extremely fast, as close as 98% to the extremality bound. No quantum gravity model for such black holes has been formulated so far. My first objective is building the first model in string theory of an extremal black hole. Taking on this challenge is made possible thanks to recent advances in a remarkable duality known as the gauge/gravity correspondence. If successful, this program will pave the way to a description of quantum gravity effects that have been conjectured to occur close to the horizon of very fast rotating black holes. Supernovae detection has established that our universe is starting a phase of accelerated expansion. This brings a pressing need to better understand still enigmatic features of de Sitter spacetime that models our universe at late times. My second objective is to derive new universal properties of the cosmological horizon of de Sitter spacetime using tools inspired from the gauge/gravity correspondence. These results will contribute to understand its remarkable entropy, which, according to the standard model of cosmology, bounds the entropy of our observable universe.
Project acronym HoloQosmos
Project Holographic Quantum Cosmology
Researcher (PI) Thomas Hertog
Summary The current theory of cosmic inflation is largely based on classical physics. This undermines its predictivity in a world that is fundamentally quantum mechanical. With this project we will develop a novel approach towards a quantum theory of inflation. We will do this by introducing holographic techniques in cosmology. The notion of holography is the most profound conceptual breakthrough that has emerged form fundamental high-energy physics in recent years. It postulates that (quantum) gravitational systems such as the universe as a whole have a precise `holographic' description in terms of quantum field theories defined on their boundary. Our aim is to develop a holographic framework for quantum cosmology. We will then apply this to three areas of theoretical cosmology where a quantum approach is of critical importance. First, we will put forward a holographic description of inflation that clarifies its microphysical origin and is rigorously predictive. Using this we will derive the distinct observational signatures of novel, truly holographic models of the early universe where inflation has no description in terms of classical cosmic evolution. Second, we will apply holographic cosmology to improve our understanding of eternal inflation. This is a phase deep into inflation where quantum effects dominate the evolution and affect the universe's global structure. Finally we will work towards generalizing our holographic models of the primordial universe to include the radiation, matter and vacuum eras. The resulting unification of cosmic history in terms of a single holographic boundary theory may lead to intriguing predictions of correlations between early and late time observables, tying together the universe's origin with its ultimate fate. Our project has the potential to revolutionize our perspective on cosmology and to further deepen the fruitful interaction between cosmology and high-energy physics.
The current theory of cosmic inflation is largely based on classical physics. This undermines its predictivity in a world that is fundamentally quantum mechanical. With this project we will develop a novel approach towards a quantum theory of inflation. We will do this by introducing holographic techniques in cosmology. The notion of holography is the most profound conceptual breakthrough that has emerged form fundamental high-energy physics in recent years. It postulates that (quantum) gravitational systems such as the universe as a whole have a precise `holographic' description in terms of quantum field theories defined on their boundary. Our aim is to develop a holographic framework for quantum cosmology. We will then apply this to three areas of theoretical cosmology where a quantum approach is of critical importance. First, we will put forward a holographic description of inflation that clarifies its microphysical origin and is rigorously predictive. Using this we will derive the distinct observational signatures of novel, truly holographic models of the early universe where inflation has no description in terms of classical cosmic evolution. Second, we will apply holographic cosmology to improve our understanding of eternal inflation. This is a phase deep into inflation where quantum effects dominate the evolution and affect the universe's global structure. Finally we will work towards generalizing our holographic models of the primordial universe to include the radiation, matter and vacuum eras. The resulting unification of cosmic history in terms of a single holographic boundary theory may lead to intriguing predictions of correlations between early and late time observables, tying together the universe's origin with its ultimate fate. Our project has the potential to revolutionize our perspective on cosmology and to further deepen the fruitful interaction between cosmology and high-energy physics.
Project acronym LinPro
Project Principles of Neural Stem Cell Lineage Progression in Cerebral Cortex Development
Researcher (PI) Simon Hippenmeyer
Host Institution (HI) INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGYAUSTRIA
Summary The cerebral cortex consists of an extraordinary number and great diversity of neurons. Yet, how the cortical entity, with all its functional neuronal circuits, arises from the neural stem cells (NSCs) in the developing neuroepithelium is a major unsolved question in Neuroscience. Radial glia progenitors (RGPs) are responsible for producing nearly all neocortical neurons and a certain fraction of cortical glia including astrocytes. Our recent efforts provide evidence for a high degree of non-stochasticity and thus deterministic nature of RGP behavior in the mammalian neocortex. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms controlling RGP lineage progression through proliferation, neurogenesis and especially gliogenesis are unknown. In a pursuit to obtain definitive insights into these fundamental questions we assess RGP lineage progression at the unprecedented single cell resolution, using the unique genetic MADM (Mosaic Analysis with Double Markers) technology. MADM offers an unparalleled approach to visualize and concomitantly manipulate sparse clones and small subsets of genetically defined neurons. Within the scope of this project we will use multidisciplinary experimental approaches to establish a research program with the following major objectives: We will 1) Functionally dissect the relative contribution of cell-autonomous intrinsic signaling and cell-non-autonomous effects in RGP lineage progression; 2) Define the principles of lineage progression in human RGPs in situ using MADM technology in cerebral organoid system; 3) Decipher the logic of glia lineage progression in the neocortex. The ultimate goal of the proposed research is to establish a definitive quantitative framework and mechanistic model of lineage progression in cortical NSCs. As such, the proposed research shall precipitate into extensive conceptual progress regarding the fundamental cellular and molecular principles of cerebral cortex development.
The cerebral cortex consists of an extraordinary number and great diversity of neurons. Yet, how the cortical entity, with all its functional neuronal circuits, arises from the neural stem cells (NSCs) in the developing neuroepithelium is a major unsolved question in Neuroscience. Radial glia progenitors (RGPs) are responsible for producing nearly all neocortical neurons and a certain fraction of cortical glia including astrocytes. Our recent efforts provide evidence for a high degree of non-stochasticity and thus deterministic nature of RGP behavior in the mammalian neocortex. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms controlling RGP lineage progression through proliferation, neurogenesis and especially gliogenesis are unknown. In a pursuit to obtain definitive insights into these fundamental questions we assess RGP lineage progression at the unprecedented single cell resolution, using the unique genetic MADM (Mosaic Analysis with Double Markers) technology. MADM offers an unparalleled approach to visualize and concomitantly manipulate sparse clones and small subsets of genetically defined neurons. Within the scope of this project we will use multidisciplinary experimental approaches to establish a research program with the following major objectives: We will 1) Functionally dissect the relative contribution of cell-autonomous intrinsic signaling and cell-non-autonomous effects in RGP lineage progression; 2) Define the principles of lineage progression in human RGPs in situ using MADM technology in cerebral organoid system; 3) Decipher the logic of glia lineage progression in the neocortex. The ultimate goal of the proposed research is to establish a definitive quantitative framework and mechanistic model of lineage progression in cortical NSCs. As such, the proposed research shall precipitate into extensive conceptual progress regarding the fundamental cellular and molecular principles of cerebral cortex development.
Project acronym LUNAR.CLOCK
Project Molecular neurobiology of a moonlight entrained circalunar clock
Researcher (PI) Karla Gisela Kristin Tessmar-Raible
Summary "Numerous scientific studies have established that the lunar cycle synchronizes reproductive behaviour and sexual maturation of animals as diverse as corals, polychaetes and fishes. Classical and recent work shows that in animals such as the annelid Platynereis dumerilii, dim nocturnal light serves as entrainment cue for an endogenous oscillator – a circalunar clock – that orchestrates reproductive and behavioral cycles. As circalunar clocks run with a (semi-)monthly period, they represent a fundamental biological phenomenon clearly distinct from the widely studied, solar light-entrained circadian (24h) clocks. Despite the vital importance of circalunar clocks, very little is known about the underlying molecular processes and responsible neuron types. This knowledge gap reflects the fact that until now, no suitable model system has been available to study circalunar clocks on the molecular and cellular level. This proposal takes full advantage of the recent establishment of substantial molecular resources and critical techniques for functional analyses in Platynereis, as well as our pioneering work on the first circalunar clock-regulated genes and the identification of four molecular candidates for the nocturnal light receptor. This now allows us to tackle two fundamental objectives: First, we aim to discover the molecular and cellular nature of the lunar light sensor(s) and their interplay with solar light photoreceptors. Second, we aim to characterize circalunar oscillatory genes and their associated neuron types that will pave the way to unravel the molecular and cellular nature of the circalunar oscillator. This work will provide new mechanistic insight into an unexplored biological mystery- circalunar clocks and their regulation by light. It also offers new conceptual advance into how animals accomplish the separation of diurnal versus nocturnal light information for the synchronization of reproductive behaviour, a challenge common in the natural environment."
"Numerous scientific studies have established that the lunar cycle synchronizes reproductive behaviour and sexual maturation of animals as diverse as corals, polychaetes and fishes. Classical and recent work shows that in animals such as the annelid Platynereis dumerilii, dim nocturnal light serves as entrainment cue for an endogenous oscillator – a circalunar clock – that orchestrates reproductive and behavioral cycles. As circalunar clocks run with a (semi-)monthly period, they represent a fundamental biological phenomenon clearly distinct from the widely studied, solar light-entrained circadian (24h) clocks. Despite the vital importance of circalunar clocks, very little is known about the underlying molecular processes and responsible neuron types. This knowledge gap reflects the fact that until now, no suitable model system has been available to study circalunar clocks on the molecular and cellular level. This proposal takes full advantage of the recent establishment of substantial molecular resources and critical techniques for functional analyses in Platynereis, as well as our pioneering work on the first circalunar clock-regulated genes and the identification of four molecular candidates for the nocturnal light receptor. This now allows us to tackle two fundamental objectives: First, we aim to discover the molecular and cellular nature of the lunar light sensor(s) and their interplay with solar light photoreceptors. Second, we aim to characterize circalunar oscillatory genes and their associated neuron types that will pave the way to unravel the molecular and cellular nature of the circalunar oscillator. This work will provide new mechanistic insight into an unexplored biological mystery- circalunar clocks and their regulation by light. It also offers new conceptual advance into how animals accomplish the separation of diurnal versus nocturnal light information for the synchronization of reproductive behaviour, a challenge common in the natural environment."
Project acronym MICROGLIA-CIRCUIT
Project Microglia action towards neuronal circuit formation and function in health and disease
Researcher (PI) Sandra Siegert
Summary Constructing a neuronal circuit requires a firework of developmental events: First, the desired cell types have to be generated and wired correctly. Random propagating burst of action potentials among neighboring cells are shaping the functional maturation of these cell types, which later will be activity-dependent refined. Microglia are exposed to this environment from the beginning and show throughout development a morphological "activated", phagocytic state. However, microglia have been proven to be involved in synapse refinement, which leads to the question how do microglia know when to alter neuronal circuit elements during development without inducing circuit malfunction? This is a fundamental question because the microglia activation state during development is intriguingly similar to the activation state in neurodegenerative diseases. To address this question, I use the retina as a model and propose the following three aims: First, we will reveal how the functional and gene regulatory network of microglia are altered when they are exposed to the neuronal activity-dependent environment and identify neuronal-imposed developmental checkpoints. We will study whether alteration of microglia function in this system will impact circuit formation and function. Second, we will examine microglia dynamics upon sequential removal of neuronal cell types in disease conditions and investigate whether functional restoration of cell types using optogenetic techniques resets microglia function. Third, we will establish the role of healthy and diseased microglia in human retinal circuit formation by reprogramming microglia and 3D-retinoids from healthy and diseased human iPS cells. I predict that my findings provide crucial insights into the functional impact of microglia upon both normal development and function, as well as how their actions may lead to disease phenotypes in situations of neurodegenerative diseases.
Constructing a neuronal circuit requires a firework of developmental events: First, the desired cell types have to be generated and wired correctly. Random propagating burst of action potentials among neighboring cells are shaping the functional maturation of these cell types, which later will be activity-dependent refined. Microglia are exposed to this environment from the beginning and show throughout development a morphological "activated", phagocytic state. However, microglia have been proven to be involved in synapse refinement, which leads to the question how do microglia know when to alter neuronal circuit elements during development without inducing circuit malfunction? This is a fundamental question because the microglia activation state during development is intriguingly similar to the activation state in neurodegenerative diseases. To address this question, I use the retina as a model and propose the following three aims: First, we will reveal how the functional and gene regulatory network of microglia are altered when they are exposed to the neuronal activity-dependent environment and identify neuronal-imposed developmental checkpoints. We will study whether alteration of microglia function in this system will impact circuit formation and function. Second, we will examine microglia dynamics upon sequential removal of neuronal cell types in disease conditions and investigate whether functional restoration of cell types using optogenetic techniques resets microglia function. Third, we will establish the role of healthy and diseased microglia in human retinal circuit formation by reprogramming microglia and 3D-retinoids from healthy and diseased human iPS cells. I predict that my findings provide crucial insights into the functional impact of microglia upon both normal development and function, as well as how their actions may lead to disease phenotypes in situations of neurodegenerative diseases.
Project acronym ModifALS
Project From zebrafish to man Modifying amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS): translation of biology into therapy
Researcher (PI) Wim Robberecht
Summary Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease of the motor neurons. As for other neurodegenerative disorders, translation of newly acquired biological insights into therapies has been difficult. In the current project we intend to contribute to the development of therapeutic approaches for ALS. We want to generate novel models, identify new therapeutic targets for intervention, and translate these into validated options for drug development in ALS. This will be done by establishing a continuous line of research from the (unbiased) screening for targets in a small animal model (zebrafish), to the exploration of their therapeutic potential, and the validation in patients. In addition, by exploring the significance of some of the findings for other neurodegenerative disorders, we hope to demonstrate this approach to be valid for the field of neurodegenerative disorders in general. This research will be performed bases on 6 work packages (WP): 1.screening of a zebrafish model for ALS to identify therapeutic targets; 2. validation of these targets in larger vertebrate ALS models; 3. investigation of the mechanism of action of these targets in order to establish approaches to interfere with them; 4. validation of these targets in human ALS; 5. generation of preclinical data on these targets; 6. exploration of the possible role of these targets in other neurodegenerative diseases. Results from WP1 will be used for further research in WP2, results from WP2 in WP3, etc. We have gathered a large set of data in preparatory work in zebrafish, enabling us to start all WPs from the beginning of the project on. This project involves collaborations with several other groups, national and international, which all have been established. Furthermore, all transgenic mice needed to initiate all these WPs have been generated and available to us.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease of the motor neurons. As for other neurodegenerative disorders, translation of newly acquired biological insights into therapies has been difficult. In the current project we intend to contribute to the development of therapeutic approaches for ALS. We want to generate novel models, identify new therapeutic targets for intervention, and translate these into validated options for drug development in ALS. This will be done by establishing a continuous line of research from the (unbiased) screening for targets in a small animal model (zebrafish), to the exploration of their therapeutic potential, and the validation in patients. In addition, by exploring the significance of some of the findings for other neurodegenerative disorders, we hope to demonstrate this approach to be valid for the field of neurodegenerative disorders in general. This research will be performed bases on 6 work packages (WP): 1.screening of a zebrafish model for ALS to identify therapeutic targets; 2. validation of these targets in larger vertebrate ALS models; 3. investigation of the mechanism of action of these targets in order to establish approaches to interfere with them; 4. validation of these targets in human ALS; 5. generation of preclinical data on these targets; 6. exploration of the possible role of these targets in other neurodegenerative diseases. Results from WP1 will be used for further research in WP2, results from WP2 in WP3, etc. We have gathered a large set of data in preparatory work in zebrafish, enabling us to start all WPs from the beginning of the project on. This project involves collaborations with several other groups, national and international, which all have been established. Furthermore, all transgenic mice needed to initiate all these WPs have been generated and available to us.
Project acronym NANOQUANT
Project Nanofiber Quantum Networks
Researcher (PI) Arno Rauschenbeutel
Host Institution (HI) TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET WIEN
Summary We propose to establish nanofiber-based atom-light interfaces as quantum-enabled fiber-optical components for quantum information processing and communication (QIPC). The key ingredient of this interface is a nanofiber-based optical dipole trap which stores laser-cooled atoms in the evanescent field surrounding the nanofiber. In this evanescently coupled atom-waveguide-system, even a few hundred atoms are already optically dense for near-resonant photons propagating through the nanofiber. In combination with the proven good coherence properties of nanofiber-trapped atoms, these highly efficient light-matter interfaces are thus perfectly suited for the implementation of practical QIPC devices. More specifically, the first goal of this project is to realize quantum memories which allow one to directly store and retrieve the quantum state of fiber-guided photons. The efficiency of the retrieval process will highly benefit from the fact that conservation of energy and momentum stabilizes the emission of the stored light into the nanofiber-guided mode. Furthermore, nanofiber-coupled atomic ensembles can provide a strong optical non-linearity which, due to the waveguide-geometry, scales with the square root of the length of the sample and can be much larger than for freely propagating light beams. The second goal of this project is to explore and to maximize this non-linearity until it prevails down to the single photon level. This single-photon non-linearity would enable optical quantum switches and photon-photon quantum gates which are essential for implementing deterministic optical quantum computation. The final goal is then to interconnect these components in order to demonstrate three different fiber-optical quantum network applications: highly efficient photon counting using fiber-coupled quantum memories, highly efficient heralded entanglement of two fiber-coupled quantum memories, and a non-linear interaction between two single-photon pulses.
We propose to establish nanofiber-based atom-light interfaces as quantum-enabled fiber-optical components for quantum information processing and communication (QIPC). The key ingredient of this interface is a nanofiber-based optical dipole trap which stores laser-cooled atoms in the evanescent field surrounding the nanofiber. In this evanescently coupled atom-waveguide-system, even a few hundred atoms are already optically dense for near-resonant photons propagating through the nanofiber. In combination with the proven good coherence properties of nanofiber-trapped atoms, these highly efficient light-matter interfaces are thus perfectly suited for the implementation of practical QIPC devices. More specifically, the first goal of this project is to realize quantum memories which allow one to directly store and retrieve the quantum state of fiber-guided photons. The efficiency of the retrieval process will highly benefit from the fact that conservation of energy and momentum stabilizes the emission of the stored light into the nanofiber-guided mode. Furthermore, nanofiber-coupled atomic ensembles can provide a strong optical non-linearity which, due to the waveguide-geometry, scales with the square root of the length of the sample and can be much larger than for freely propagating light beams. The second goal of this project is to explore and to maximize this non-linearity until it prevails down to the single photon level. This single-photon non-linearity would enable optical quantum switches and photon-photon quantum gates which are essential for implementing deterministic optical quantum computation. The final goal is then to interconnect these components in order to demonstrate three different fiber-optical quantum network applications: highly efficient photon counting using fiber-coupled quantum memories, highly efficient heralded entanglement of two fiber-coupled quantum memories, and a non-linear interaction between two single-photon pulses.
Project acronym PEPTIDELEARNING
Project The Role of Neuropeptides in Learning and Memory
Researcher (PI) Liliane Schoofs
Summary Humanity has always been intrigued by the nearly mythical properties of the brain. With its billions of neurons and innumerable connections, the brain is of such complex nature, that trying to understand it may seem a vain project. Yet, by using the 'mini-brain' of the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans, which shares many components with the human brain but counts only 302 neurons, thorough research can penetrate into this complexity. We here pursue to deliver a much-needed understanding of how learning and memory processes are regulated by neuropeptide signaling in the brain. Neuropeptides are small regulatory proteins that are implicated in a variety of processes. Growing evidence exists for their involvement in learning and memory, but how they exert these effects is largely unexplored. In C. elegans we recently disentangled a conserved vasopressin/ocytocin-related system that –as in humans– mediates associative learning. As such, we can deliver the experience, model and logical approach to provide detailed insights in neuropeptidergic control of learning and memory. We will first identify the endogenous ligand of all orphan C. elegans neuropeptide GPCRs, as this will provide the essential basis to build this project on. Mutants of neuropeptide-receptor pairs will then be tested for their ability to learn or maintain associative short- or long-term memory. We will also define in which cells and circuits relevant neuropeptides and receptors are needed for these functions, in order to generate models of neuropeptidergic control of learning and memory. We envisage the use of novel tools and cutting-edge experimental setups to take this research beyond its current horizon. Via single cell RNA sequencing, optogenetic analyses and in vivo calcium imaging, we will develop a workflow to build integrative models of associative learning and memory processes mediated by neuropeptides, which will serve as a scaffold for the study of these processes in more complex brains.
Humanity has always been intrigued by the nearly mythical properties of the brain. With its billions of neurons and innumerable connections, the brain is of such complex nature, that trying to understand it may seem a vain project. Yet, by using the 'mini-brain' of the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans, which shares many components with the human brain but counts only 302 neurons, thorough research can penetrate into this complexity. We here pursue to deliver a much-needed understanding of how learning and memory processes are regulated by neuropeptide signaling in the brain. Neuropeptides are small regulatory proteins that are implicated in a variety of processes. Growing evidence exists for their involvement in learning and memory, but how they exert these effects is largely unexplored. In C. elegans we recently disentangled a conserved vasopressin/ocytocin-related system that –as in humans– mediates associative learning. As such, we can deliver the experience, model and logical approach to provide detailed insights in neuropeptidergic control of learning and memory. We will first identify the endogenous ligand of all orphan C. elegans neuropeptide GPCRs, as this will provide the essential basis to build this project on. Mutants of neuropeptide-receptor pairs will then be tested for their ability to learn or maintain associative short- or long-term memory. We will also define in which cells and circuits relevant neuropeptides and receptors are needed for these functions, in order to generate models of neuropeptidergic control of learning and memory. We envisage the use of novel tools and cutting-edge experimental setups to take this research beyond its current horizon. Via single cell RNA sequencing, optogenetic analyses and in vivo calcium imaging, we will develop a workflow to build integrative models of associative learning and memory processes mediated by neuropeptides, which will serve as a scaffold for the study of these processes in more complex brains.
Project acronym PROBING-PAIN
Project Multimodal functional neuroimaging techniques to probe the representation of pain in the human brain
Researcher (PI) Andre Philippe J Mouraux
Summary "Pain may be defined as a primarily aversive perception that is vital for survival, as it incites the individual to respond to stimuli constituting a real or potential menace. However, pain is also a major healthcare issue, undermining the health and welfare of millions of individuals and imposing a severe financial burden to our societies. How does the brain process noxious stimuli, and how does this lead to the perception of pain? In humans, using functional neuroimaging techniques such as electroencephalography (EEG) or functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), a great number of studies have shown that noxious stimuli elicit activity within a widespread network of cortical regions, including the primary and secondary somatosensory cortices, the insula and the anterior cingulate cortex. However, recent studies have suggested that these responses are largely unspecific for pain and, instead, reflect attentional mechanisms that can be triggered by the occurrence of any salient sensory event, regardless of whether it elicits pain. Therefore, novel approaches are needed to progress in understanding the neural representation of pain in humans. This constitutes the main objective of this project in which we will develop a series of original experimental approaches to (1) explore how transient and sustained pain are respectively represented in the human brain, (2) characterize directly the functional connectivity, interdependency and hierarchical organization of the different brain regions involved in the perception of pain and (3) characterize the plastic changes in cortical excitability and functional connectivity induced by sustained experimental pain as well as chronic pathological pain. Each of these approaches has the potential to open a new line of research for basic and clinical pain neuroscience, with important development perspectives, such as the identification of novel human biomarkers for analgesic drug development and improved patient stratification."
"Pain may be defined as a primarily aversive perception that is vital for survival, as it incites the individual to respond to stimuli constituting a real or potential menace. However, pain is also a major healthcare issue, undermining the health and welfare of millions of individuals and imposing a severe financial burden to our societies. How does the brain process noxious stimuli, and how does this lead to the perception of pain? In humans, using functional neuroimaging techniques such as electroencephalography (EEG) or functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), a great number of studies have shown that noxious stimuli elicit activity within a widespread network of cortical regions, including the primary and secondary somatosensory cortices, the insula and the anterior cingulate cortex. However, recent studies have suggested that these responses are largely unspecific for pain and, instead, reflect attentional mechanisms that can be triggered by the occurrence of any salient sensory event, regardless of whether it elicits pain. Therefore, novel approaches are needed to progress in understanding the neural representation of pain in humans. This constitutes the main objective of this project in which we will develop a series of original experimental approaches to (1) explore how transient and sustained pain are respectively represented in the human brain, (2) characterize directly the functional connectivity, interdependency and hierarchical organization of the different brain regions involved in the perception of pain and (3) characterize the plastic changes in cortical excitability and functional connectivity induced by sustained experimental pain as well as chronic pathological pain. Each of these approaches has the potential to open a new line of research for basic and clinical pain neuroscience, with important development perspectives, such as the identification of novel human biomarkers for analgesic drug development and improved patient stratification."
Project acronym PROSPERITY
Project Probing Stellar Physics and Testing Stellar Evolution through Asteroseismology
Researcher (PI) Conny Aerts
Summary Our goal is to achieve a physical description of stellar interiors with an order of magnitude better precision in the physical quantities than we have now. We will concentrate on three outstanding critical issues in current stellar structure theory and solve them through a novel approach termed asteroseismology. 1. We will obtain a quantitative estimate of the amount of convective mixing and of the internal rotation profile for a broad range of stellar masses and evolutionary states, with specific emphasis on massive stars and on red giant stars. This will be done using new seismic data assembled by the space missions MOST, CoRoT and Kepler, which have a factor 1000 better precision than the ground-based data we had to rely on so far. 2. We will include, for the first time, the effect of a radiation-driven stellar wind on the theoretical description of stellar oscillations. This opens a new avenu: the seismic calibration of stellar evolution models of the most massive stars from the core-hydrogen burning up to the supernova stage. 3. We will build a new dedicated camera, MAIA, for the Mercator telescope at La Palma (Canary Islands), to investigate the badly understood common envelope phase of close binary stars. There are large unknowns in their evolution, mainly during the red giant phase when the two stellar components may share a common envelope. The recently discovered pulsating subdwarf O and B binaries must have lost their hydrogen envelope during a common envelope phase near the tip of the red giant branch. We will put tight seismic constraints on their outer hydrogen layer and mass and use these two diagnostics to perform a critical evaluation of close binary evolution theory along the giant branch. Our project encompasses engineering, observational astronomy, theoretical astrophysics, time series analysis and statistical clustering. It will revolutionise stellar evolution theory for a variety of stars and all topics in astrophysics that build on it.
Our goal is to achieve a physical description of stellar interiors with an order of magnitude better precision in the physical quantities than we have now. We will concentrate on three outstanding critical issues in current stellar structure theory and solve them through a novel approach termed asteroseismology. 1. We will obtain a quantitative estimate of the amount of convective mixing and of the internal rotation profile for a broad range of stellar masses and evolutionary states, with specific emphasis on massive stars and on red giant stars. This will be done using new seismic data assembled by the space missions MOST, CoRoT and Kepler, which have a factor 1000 better precision than the ground-based data we had to rely on so far. 2. We will include, for the first time, the effect of a radiation-driven stellar wind on the theoretical description of stellar oscillations. This opens a new avenu: the seismic calibration of stellar evolution models of the most massive stars from the core-hydrogen burning up to the supernova stage. 3. We will build a new dedicated camera, MAIA, for the Mercator telescope at La Palma (Canary Islands), to investigate the badly understood common envelope phase of close binary stars. There are large unknowns in their evolution, mainly during the red giant phase when the two stellar components may share a common envelope. The recently discovered pulsating subdwarf O and B binaries must have lost their hydrogen envelope during a common envelope phase near the tip of the red giant branch. We will put tight seismic constraints on their outer hydrogen layer and mass and use these two diagnostics to perform a critical evaluation of close binary evolution theory along the giant branch. Our project encompasses engineering, observational astronomy, theoretical astrophysics, time series analysis and statistical clustering. It will revolutionise stellar evolution theory for a variety of stars and all topics in astrophysics that build on it.
Project acronym QIT4QAD
Project Photonic Quantum Information Technology and the Foundations of Quantum Physics in Higher Dimensions
Researcher (PI) Anton Zeilinger
Summary One of the most important developments in modern physics was the recent emergence of quantum information science, which by its very nature is broadly multidisciplinary. It was started by investigations of the foundations of quantum mechanics, and fundamental quantum concepts, most notably, entanglement, play a key role. We are now at an historic moment where a major qualitative step, both in developing a new technology and applying it to new fundamental questions, can be made. In this proposal, we aim to combine the investigation of fundamental questions with the development of micro-optics technology to reach a new level of both quantum information experiments and fundamental tests of quantum mechanics. We propose to utilize the advanced development of micro-optics to build novel integrated quantum optics photonic chips. High quality micro-optics will allow precise control over many properties, including birefringence, dispersion, periodicity, and even absorptive properties. We will combine this with novel highly efficient detectors, hopefully, in the long run, also integrated into the same microchips. By their very nature, the new multi-mode devices will make new higher-dimensional regions of Hilbert space and new types of multi-photon entanglement accessible to experiment. Such devices will enable many new fundamental investigations of quantum mechanics, such as, to give just one example, exploring quantum complementarity both between different numbers of photons and as a function of Hilbert space dimension with significant mathematical implications. Most importantly, we are convinced that many new ideas will arise throughout the project. The new integrated quantum optical chips will also be important in quantum computation, specifically with cluster states and similar complex quantum states. With these chips, we will realize multi-qubit procedures and algorithms and demonstrate the feasibility of all-optical quantum computation in realistic scenarios.
One of the most important developments in modern physics was the recent emergence of quantum information science, which by its very nature is broadly multidisciplinary. It was started by investigations of the foundations of quantum mechanics, and fundamental quantum concepts, most notably, entanglement, play a key role. We are now at an historic moment where a major qualitative step, both in developing a new technology and applying it to new fundamental questions, can be made. In this proposal, we aim to combine the investigation of fundamental questions with the development of micro-optics technology to reach a new level of both quantum information experiments and fundamental tests of quantum mechanics. We propose to utilize the advanced development of micro-optics to build novel integrated quantum optics photonic chips. High quality micro-optics will allow precise control over many properties, including birefringence, dispersion, periodicity, and even absorptive properties. We will combine this with novel highly efficient detectors, hopefully, in the long run, also integrated into the same microchips. By their very nature, the new multi-mode devices will make new higher-dimensional regions of Hilbert space and new types of multi-photon entanglement accessible to experiment. Such devices will enable many new fundamental investigations of quantum mechanics, such as, to give just one example, exploring quantum complementarity both between different numbers of photons and as a function of Hilbert space dimension with significant mathematical implications. Most importantly, we are convinced that many new ideas will arise throughout the project. The new integrated quantum optical chips will also be important in quantum computation, specifically with cluster states and similar complex quantum states. With these chips, we will realize multi-qubit procedures and algorithms and demonstrate the feasibility of all-optical quantum computation in realistic scenarios.
Project acronym QSuperMag
Project Harnessing Quantum Systems with Superconductivity and Magnetism
Researcher (PI) Josep Oriol Romero-Isart
Summary QSuperMag aims at using magnetic fields and superconductors to harness quantum degrees of freedom in order to make accessible an unprecedented parameter regime in the fields of quantum micro- and nanomechanical oscillators, quantum simulation with ultracold atoms, and solid-state quantum information processing. The goal is to establish a new paradigm in quantum optics by replacing laser light with magnetic fields, and especially, superconductors. Laser light has been the ubiquitous tool in the last decades to control and manipulate quantum systems because it is fast, coherent, and can be focused to address individual degrees of freedom. However, the use of lasers poses fundamental limitations, such as heating and decoherence due to scattering and absorption of photons, and a minimum length-scale to achieve coherent control due to the diffraction limit. The main goal of QSuperMag is to circumvent these limitations by using magnetic fields and superconductors to harness quantum systems that are traditionally controlled and addressed by laser light. This will be done by developing new theory and proposing experiments which lie at the interplay between the fields of quantum science and superconductivity. QSuperMag's goals are to: -Propose cutting-edge experiments in the field of quantum micromechanical systems. This will be achieved by exploiting the unique features of our recent proposal for quantum magnetomechanics using magnetically-levitated superconducting microspheres [ORI et al. PRL 109, 11013 (2012)]. -Put forward a magnetic nanolattice for ultracold atoms in which the distance between lattice sites is of the order of few tens of nanometers. Together with a magnetic toolbox this will place the field of quantum simulation in a radically new scenario. -Use superconductors to enhance the coupling of remote magnetic dipoles in order to design an all-magnetic quantum information processor in diamond. This will also have relevant technological applications.
QSuperMag aims at using magnetic fields and superconductors to harness quantum degrees of freedom in order to make accessible an unprecedented parameter regime in the fields of quantum micro- and nanomechanical oscillators, quantum simulation with ultracold atoms, and solid-state quantum information processing. The goal is to establish a new paradigm in quantum optics by replacing laser light with magnetic fields, and especially, superconductors. Laser light has been the ubiquitous tool in the last decades to control and manipulate quantum systems because it is fast, coherent, and can be focused to address individual degrees of freedom. However, the use of lasers poses fundamental limitations, such as heating and decoherence due to scattering and absorption of photons, and a minimum length-scale to achieve coherent control due to the diffraction limit. The main goal of QSuperMag is to circumvent these limitations by using magnetic fields and superconductors to harness quantum systems that are traditionally controlled and addressed by laser light. This will be done by developing new theory and proposing experiments which lie at the interplay between the fields of quantum science and superconductivity. QSuperMag's goals are to: -Propose cutting-edge experiments in the field of quantum micromechanical systems. This will be achieved by exploiting the unique features of our recent proposal for quantum magnetomechanics using magnetically-levitated superconducting microspheres [ORI et al. PRL 109, 11013 (2012)]. -Put forward a magnetic nanolattice for ultracold atoms in which the distance between lattice sites is of the order of few tens of nanometers. Together with a magnetic toolbox this will place the field of quantum simulation in a radically new scenario. -Use superconductors to enhance the coupling of remote magnetic dipoles in order to design an all-magnetic quantum information processor in diamond. This will also have relevant technological applications.
Project acronym SpecMAT
Project Spectroscopy of exotic nuclei in a Magnetic Active Target
Researcher (PI) Riccardo Raabe
Summary SpecMAT aims at providing crucial experimental information to answer key questions about the structure of atomic nuclei: - What are the forces driving the shell structure in nuclei and how do they change in nuclei far from stability? - What remains of the Z = 28 and N = 50 "magic numbers" in 78Ni? - Do we understand shape coexistence in nuclei, and what are the mechanisms controlling its appearance? The position of natural and "intruder" shells will be mapped in two critical regions, the neutron-rich nuclei around Z = 28 and the neutron-deficient nuclei around Z = 82. The centroids of the shell strength are derived from the complete spectroscopy of those systems in nucleon-transfer measurements. This method will be applied for the first time in the region of neutron-deficient Pb nuclei. In SpecMAT (Spectroscopy of exotic nuclei in a Magnetic Active Target) a novel instrument will overcome the present challenges in performing such measurements with very weak beams of unstable nuclei. It combines high luminosity, high efficiency and a very large dynamic range and allows detection of both charged-particle and gamma-ray radiation. The instrument owns its remarkable performances to a number of advanced technologies concerning the use of electronics, gaseous detectors and gamma-ray detectors in a magnetic field. The SpecMAT detector will be coupled to the HIE-ISOLDE facility for the production and post-acceleration of radioactive ion beams in construction at CERN in Geneva. HIE-ISOLDE will provide world-unique beams thanks to the use of the proton injector of the CERN complex. If successful, SpecMAT at HIE-ISOLDE will produce specific results in nuclear structure which cannot be reached by other programmes elsewhere. Such results will have a significant impact on the present theories and models of the atomic nucleus.
SpecMAT aims at providing crucial experimental information to answer key questions about the structure of atomic nuclei: - What are the forces driving the shell structure in nuclei and how do they change in nuclei far from stability? - What remains of the Z = 28 and N = 50 "magic numbers" in 78Ni? - Do we understand shape coexistence in nuclei, and what are the mechanisms controlling its appearance? The position of natural and "intruder" shells will be mapped in two critical regions, the neutron-rich nuclei around Z = 28 and the neutron-deficient nuclei around Z = 82. The centroids of the shell strength are derived from the complete spectroscopy of those systems in nucleon-transfer measurements. This method will be applied for the first time in the region of neutron-deficient Pb nuclei. In SpecMAT (Spectroscopy of exotic nuclei in a Magnetic Active Target) a novel instrument will overcome the present challenges in performing such measurements with very weak beams of unstable nuclei. It combines high luminosity, high efficiency and a very large dynamic range and allows detection of both charged-particle and gamma-ray radiation. The instrument owns its remarkable performances to a number of advanced technologies concerning the use of electronics, gaseous detectors and gamma-ray detectors in a magnetic field. The SpecMAT detector will be coupled to the HIE-ISOLDE facility for the production and post-acceleration of radioactive ion beams in construction at CERN in Geneva. HIE-ISOLDE will provide world-unique beams thanks to the use of the proton injector of the CERN complex. If successful, SpecMAT at HIE-ISOLDE will produce specific results in nuclear structure which cannot be reached by other programmes elsewhere. Such results will have a significant impact on the present theories and models of the atomic nucleus.


Organic electronics is a class of electronics where large-area and high-volume deposition and patterning techniques are employed to develop the same. Printed and flexible electronics are also part of organic electronics. There has already been a number of products which have been developed using organic electronics. The application of organic electronics in curved HD TVs, and smartphone displays is one such key application area for organic electronics considering the volume of these products that are sold year on year. Many organizations have already invested in obtaining the patents for curved and flexible displays for smartphones and tablets. Organic electronics play a pivotal role for such devices not just for the fact that a curved or flexible display would require components that are as flexible as the product itself, but for efficient power consumption and processing as well. Those products which are developed with organic electronics have been found to be able to interact with bio systems more easily than what was the case with inorganic electronics. This feature makes the use of organic electronics for healthcare applications indispensable and can be used for biomedical applications such as neuron interfacing. As of date, organic electronics still has quite a way to go before it becomes a standard part of all electronic devices. Organic electronics possesses a number of advantages, however, the technology still needs more R&D to make it robust and suitable for electronics which undergo considerable wear and tear and therefore, life time of consumer electronics still needs to be worked on. Having said that, R&D in organic electronics is continually increasing year on year as this will lead to OEMs to provide a new range of devices in different form factors.
The APAC region as of 2015 accounted for the highest contribution to the organic electronics market as a number of the key vendors are located in this region and have been using organic electronics in a number of pilot projects for quite some time. Many of the smartphone manufacturers located in the region are keenly looking at the implementation of organic electronics in their evies as soon as possible as this will give them room to bring in the next level of product differentiation. Samsung has already taken one step forward with the introduction of its Samsun EDGE series, however, this is just the tip of the iceberg.
In terms the material the market has been divided into the following Semiconductor, Conductive, Dielectric and Substrate. The Organic Electronics market has also been segmented by the following applications Battery, Conductive Ink, Display, Lighting, Memory, Sensor, OPV, ORFID and Others. The Organic Electronics market has also been segmented by the following geographies Americas, APAC, Europe and ROW.


text:
Panthers Can't Slow Down Lancers
Ken Powers
LONGMEADOW — According to coach Dennis Dextradeur, the Quabbin Regional boys' basketball team's goal coming into Friday night's Western Mass Division 2 Tournament quarterfinal against Longmeadow was a simple one: Derail the Longmeadow Express, the nickname Dextradeur gave the Lancers' high-octane, fast-paced offense.
Well, the sixth-seeded Panthers slowed the Longmeadow Express a few times — especially in the first quarter — but the Lancers, the No. 3 seed, were pretty much on track all game and, as a result, easily defeated Quabbin, 64-35.
With the win Longmeadow (14-6) advanced to the semifinal round where the Lancers will face second-seeded Tantasqua Regional at 6 p.m. Thursday at UMass-Amherst's Curry Hicks Cage. Quabbin finished its season with a 12-9 record.
"Our game plan coming into the game was not to turn over the ball," Dextradeur said. "And on our first three possessions we turned the ball over. What we didn't want to do was give the Longmeadow offense more possessions. If we don't turn the ball over we limit the number of possessions Longmeadow gets and that, we thought, would allow us to command the opening of the game."
The start of the game — and the end for that matter — didn't work out the way Quabbin hoped it would, but the Panthers did lead briefly, 4-0, on a pair of baskets by Marco Gabrielli. After the teams exchanged three possessions each, the 6-foot, 6-inch senior, who finished with a game-high 17 points, finished off a baseline drive with a reverse layup and then hit a short bank shot from the left side.
Longmeadow regrouped however, and scored nine straight points and 12 of the next 15. Senior guard Tyler Boyle (11 points) keyed the run with a pair of 3-pointers while senior center Garret Marchant scored a pair of layups.
With his team trailing 9-4, Quabbin freshman Colby Smith (10 points) pulled the Panthers to within two, 9-7, with a 3-pointer from the apex of the 3-point arc. Boyle hit his second trey at that point to give the Lancers a 12-7 lead but Quabbin sophomore Brodie Coughlin (six points) scored on a steal and a layup to pull Quabbin to within three, 12-9, as played headed into the second quarter.
If Longmeadow hadn't put the game away by halftime it was certainly in firm control of it, leading 29-15 at the break. The Lancers opened the period on a 9-0 run and scored 13 of the quarter's first 15 points. Quabbin scored just two points in the first seven minutes of the quarter.
The Longmeadow Express was officially back on the rails and under full power in the third quarter. Smith cut the Quabbin deficit to 12 with a pair of free throws to begin the quarter, but the Lancers scored seven straight on a 3-pointer by Boyle which was sandwiched in between two drives by Seth Wernick (11 points) to lead, 36-17, with six minutes to remaining in the third.
The teams exchanged baskets, for the most part, the rest of the quarter. Quabbin scored the final four points of the period and trailed, 45-28, with eight minutes left to play.
Longmeadow opened the fourth quarter with two free throws by Wernick and a drive by Isaac Chase to open up a 21-point lead, 49-28, with seven minutes left in the game. Quabbin scored five straight — on a Smith three and a Gabrielli turnaround — to cut the deficit to 16, 49-33. The Lancers ended the game by scoring 25 of the final 27 points. Gabrielli halted a 12-0 run with another short turnaround, and the Lancers closed out the game by scoring the final three points to account for the 64-35 final.
"They're a tough team. They are very young other than Marco," Longmeadow coach Pat Murphy said. "So we knew they were probably going to try to get the ball to him since he came in as their only player with postseason experience. We didn't front him, we three-quartered him and tried to make it tough for him by taking away some passing angles they normally get. We just tried to make it hard for him because he's a fantastic player."

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Gujarat: Laid-off Navsarjan staffers want PM to restore FCRA licence
As many as 50 former employees of Ahmedabad-based Navsarjan Trust have urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to restore Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) licence of the trust. The trust's FCRA licence was cancelled by the Union Home Ministry in December last year on the ground that it was involved in "undesirable" activities that created wedge among communities. The employees having signed the petition are among the 80 employees of the trust who were dropped from the job due to termination of FCRA license. The entire income of the trust was through FCRA only. One of the trustees said that the employees were "relieved"' as the trust could no longer pay their salaries and maintain them.
All the 50 former employees are from from the Dalit community. They have formed "Navsarjan Bachao Samiti"' under the leadership of Suresh Jadav, one of the "relieved"' employees.
The letter has rejected the allegations that Navsarjan was involved in any "undesirable" activities aimed at creating differences among "religious, racial, social, linguistic, regional groups, castes or communities".
"Navsarjan Trust has no hidden agenda," the letter said. "To the contrary, Navsarjan Trust has been a critical force for the past 27 years to uplift the Dalit community and has been a dedicated advocate for Dalit rights as provided in the Indian Constitution."
Stressing that Navsarjan Trust fulfills all criteria required for the FCRA registration, the letter said: "The decision to cancel the FCRA registration is nothing more than an effort to bully the organisation into silence, motivated by anti-Dalit agenda, and a political vendetta against Dalit human right activists."
The letter pointed out that the Trust filed as many as 16 petitions in the Gujarat High Court to advance the rights of Dalits and tribals. "It was only after the HC issued an order on a petition of the Navsarjan Trust that the state government set up Safai Kamdar Corporation with an allocation of Rs 125 crore," the letter informed.
"On another petition of Navsarjan Trust, the state government awarded around 6,000 acres of land to economically-disadvantaged Dalit people who had been unable to obtain agricultural land," said the letter.
Among other achievements of the trust, the letter pointed out that it was on a petition by the Navsarjan Trust that the Abolition of Manual Scavenging Act was implemented for the first time in Gujarat on directions of the HC and was latter adopted in almost all the states, and Parliament also amended the Act subsequently.
It pointed out that the Trust created educational awareness among the Dalits and the poor in by running schools at Sami in Patan, Rayka in Ahmedabad, and Katariya in Surendranagar.
"Through its Dalit Shakti Kendra near Sanand, the Navsarjan provided self-employment training to around 9,500 students, in photography, videography, tailoring, carpentry, fabrication, driving and basic computer skills," said the letter.
Report Shows How War Profiteers Are Now Refugee Profiteers, Too
#Mumbai- Inquiry indicts Hinduja's Dr Jnanesh Thacker for removing organs from corpse
Supreme Court "Shocked", Hits Out At Centre Over "Exploitation Of Poor"
125 years after Ambedkar was born, a Dalit woman was burnt to death in Rajasthan
Advocacy, Caste Discrminination, Human Rights, Justice, Kractivism, Law
The dalit community formed a voluntary organisation. They need money. Their demand should be accepted


text:
When poor eyesight ended his childhood ambition to follow his group captain father into the RAF, Simon MacCorkindale briefly considered a career in the Diplomatic Service before deciding that being a theatre director was a suitable alternative – much to the consternation of his parents. His thespian inclinations were reluctantly sanctioned only after he agreed to abandon the stage if he was still struggling to find work by the age of 25.
Enrolled at London's Studio 68 of Theatre Arts, he took acting lessons to help with the craft of directing, inadvertently changing the direction of his career. A much admired student performer, he made his professional debut in A Bequest to the Nation at the Belgrade, Coventry in 1973, and appeared in three episodes of Hawkeye, The Pathfinder on television the same year.
A West End debut, alongside Alec McCowen and Diana Rigg in a revival of Pygmalion at the Albery, followed in 1974. His breakthrough came in 1976 as Lucius, son to Brian Blessed's Emperor Augustus in I, Claudius for the BBC. More TV followed, with roles in Sutherland's Law, Within These Walls, Galsworthy's The Skin Game, Quatermass (with Sir John Mills) and Jesus of Nazareth before international fame arrived in 1978, courtesy of the star-studded film adaptation of Agatha Christie's Death on the Nile.
Its success and that of his next film, The Riddle of the Sands, secured him passage to the United States. Despite his refusal to Americanise his accent, his heartthrob looks and aristocratic demeanour kept him in constant work. Although his film career stalled with the final instalment of the Jaws franchise (shot in 3D), his profile on television grew apace, with appearances in The Dukes of Hazzard, Fantasy Island, Hart to Hart and Dynasty. In 1983 he secured the lead in the short-lived fantasy Manimal – playing a crime-solving Professor with the ability to transform himself into animals and birds. From 1984 to '86 he appeared in 59 episodes of Falcon Crest, the glossy soap opera about a dysfunctional family of California wine makers, with Hollywood star Jane Wyman as the conniving matriarch at its centre. It was enough to add his name to the list of possible successors to Roger Moore's James Bond.
He returned to the UK in 1986 to create Amy International Artists and Apollo Films International. He acted in, wrote, directed and produced projects for both companies and others, including the 1989 film Djavolji raj (set in Second World War Yugoslavia and starring his second wife, Susan George, and Rod Steiger, for which he also composed the music), and the TV series Queen of Swords (2000), and Adventure Inc. (2002).
In 2006 he joined the BBC's long-running hospital drama Casualty as consultant Harry Harper, staying with the series for six years and 229 episodes. Recent stage performances included UK tours of murder mystery The Unexpected Guest in 2007, and Sleuth, with the Library Theatre, in 2008. Later that year, he took over the role of Captain Von Trapp in The Sound of Music at the Palladium. His final television appearance was earlier this year in an episode of New Tricks for the BBC.
Born on February 12, 1952, in Ely, Cambridgeshire, he twice married actresses – Fiona Fullerton from 1976 to '81, and Susan George in 1984, with whom he managed a 45-acre stud on Exmoor, breeding thoroughbred Arabian horses.
Diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2006, he learned that the disease had spread to his lungs in 2007. He died on October 14, 2010, aged 58, while receiving treatment in a London clinic.
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Treat yourself or someone with these bite sized Easter eggs which are perfect for sharing.
Milk chocolate (35%) filled with seasalt caramel filling which has won two awards.
These special take on salted caramel made more mellow with brown sugar and given distinction with subtly smoky milk chocolate.
Mild crunch of egg and softness of ganache makes the whole experience irresistibly satisfying for those, who love the smoothness of milk chocolate.


text:
literature, novel
por Café Literario en Buenos Aires 10 abril, 20184:51 am 11 abril, 2018
Ralph Ellison & the Invisible Man
Ralph Ellison was born in Oklahoma, U.S.A. on March 1, 1913. He was a novelist, literary critic and scholar who was first trained as a musician at the Tuskegee Institute from 1933 to 1936. His book, Invisible Man won the National Book Award in 1953. He later taught at the University of Chicago and Rutgers University. He died on April 16, 1994 in New York City.
We will read the Prologue to his highly acclaimed novel, Invisible Man. It was first published separately as a a piece of narrative fiction, can stand on its own. It gives us insight into a brilliant mind of the novelist and the plight of many African Americans in the U.S. before the civil rights movement.
You can access the PDF here: Prologue of the Invisible Man
We will meet on Tuesday night, April 24th at 7:30 pm at the Cafetería La Biela in Plaza Francia in Recoleta (near the Cemetery de Recoleta). The address: Av. Pres. Manuel Quintana 596. We will wait in front of the café until 7:30. Then we will go in a find a table on the right side of the coffee shop.
If you plan to attend, please send us an email and let us know you're coming!
cafeliterarioba@gmail.com
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Iván Turguénev
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text:
Manchester City and its Blockchain-Based Token
By Elliot Chang On Mar 19, 2021
Football clubs started to realize the importance of new technologies. Interestingly, English football Manchester city made an important announcement on Friday. According to this announcement, the team worked with fan engagement platform Socios.com to launch the CITY fan token on the Chiliz blockchain. As a result, Manchester City is the latest famous football club to launch its own blockchain-based token. Thanks to this token the club will be able to power new tools when it comes to digital fan engagement.
It is worth noting that, similar to other European clubs like FC Barcelona, Juventus, the Manchester-based club will have an option to provide VIP tickets, games, AR-enabled features as well as polls using its fan token.
Interestingly, the participants of the club's Cityzens membership will be eligible to receive a free CITY fan token. Moreover, every existing registered Cityzen will be eligible for a free token. With these tokens, they can access the full range of benefits and rewards.
Manchester City, blockchain-based token, and new opportunities
Hopefully, the newly launched blockchain-based token will provide fans with unique and real-life rewards and experiences. People will be able to take advantage of this fan token as soon as COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.
As a reminder, Manchester City competes in the Premier League, the top level of English football. Moreover, it is reportedly the fifth most valuable football club in the world, with an estimated value of $.27 billion as of 2019.
It is worth noting that the Chiliz token which is the native token of the blockchain platform Socios, experienced a parabolic rise over the past several months. As a result, its market cap reached $1 billion. As of March 19, its market cap stands at $3.8 billion.
This month, blockchain sports venture firm Chiliz made an interesting announcement. The firm will open an office in New York and will start working with local leagues and sports franchises. As a reminder, the Malta-based company is preparing to launch fan tokens with franchises from the five major U.S. sports leagues.
The company knows how to reach formidable results. It generated millions of dollars of revenue for some of Europe's biggest sports organizations. Last year, Chiliz shared $30 million with its partners. Manchester City found a great partner. This company has years of experience in providing fan tokens to popular football clubs such as FC Barcelona, Juventus, as well as Paris Saint-Germain.
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Rarely does a minute go by without a customer stopping just long enough to pass a dollar bill to Lonnie Loosie, known to the police by his given name, Lonnie Warner, 50. They clench the two "loosies" — as single cigarettes are called — that he thrusts back in return.
Soon Mr. Warner's two partners, both younger men, arrive for the day and fan out along the same block. By midmorning, the block to the south is occupied by Carlton, who sells loosies, as does Carlton's younger brother, Norman, 54.
A few blocks north, another man sells cigarettes near a check-cashing storefront. Add to these a few roving vendors who poach territory when they can.
Itinerant cigarette vendors have long been a fixture in some parts of the city, like bodegas that sell individual cigarettes in violation of state law. But with cigarette prices up and the number of smoke-friendly places down, the black market for loosies is now thriving on the streets.
The administration of Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg has outlawed smoking in restaurants, bars and playgrounds, and outside hospital entrances. Even city parks, beaches and pedestrian plazas will soon be off limits to smokers. Then there have been successive rounds of taxes — the most recent one, a $1.60 rise in the state tax in July — that raised the price of a pack of cigarettes to $12.50 at many Midtown newsstands.
Mr. Warner and his partners patrol the east side of Eighth Avenue, from 35th to 36th Street. He started out on Seventh Avenue, but eventually moved a block west, in front of Staples at 35th. "You look for the crowd," he said.
Mr. Warner said he believed that the official price was above what many people were willing or able to pay. As evidence, he noted that his customers included office workers from as far south as 32nd Street and as far north as 40th Street — people with good-paying jobs, as far as he can discern.
Mr. Warner said he bought his cigarettes — almost always Newports — for a bit over $50 a carton from smugglers who get them in states like Virginia, where the state tax is well under a dollar a pack. He then resells them for 75 cents each, two for $1 or $8 for a pack ($7 for friends).
Mr. Warner said he and each of his two partners took home $120 to $150 a day, profit made from selling about 2,000 cigarettes, mostly two at a time. Each transaction is a misdemeanor offense.
Among all of Midtown's cigarette vendors, Mr. Warner stands out, partly because he seems to get arrested more frequently than others. That may be because his style of salesmanship is hardly furtive.
Over many court appearances, Mr. Warner has made a favorable impression on the lawyers in Midtown Community Court, who know him as Lonnie Loosie and consider him better company than the typical misdemeanor defendant.
For Mr. Warner, punishment usually means a few days in jail on Rikers Island, or a week of community service, some of it spent sweeping cigarette butts.
Mr. Warner asserts that the block is safer and less unruly because of him.
Mr. Warner grew up in Jersey City and spent about two decades in New Jersey prisons for a series of armed robberies. Those crimes date from a time when he says he was addicted to crack cocaine.
After his release from a 13-year sentence in 2006, Mr. Warner tried to find steady work in New York, but was invariably rebuffed — because of his felony status, he suspects. When he considers his options for making a living, he sees few besides selling loosies.
"I'm sorry that it's come to this, but this is what it's come to," he said.
He said he would like to work someday as a barker for tour buses, selling Manhattan's attractions to wandering tourists.
In his time, Mr. Warner has learned a lot about smokers' habits. He sometimes hears from customers who explain to him they are quitting as they buy two final loosies.
For the moment, business is good enough that Mr. Warner said he intended to buy health insurance for the first time. He currently relies on his periodic stays on Rikers Island — an occupational hazard — for medical attention. "When they screen me, I ask for all the blood tests," he said.
Mr. Warner knows few customers by name, but dozens by face. He often tells female customers that they are too pretty to smoke, just before completing the sale. What he will not do is light a cigarette for anybody. Start offering customers a light and "you'll have a crowd of four or five smokers around you in no time," Mr. Warner explained. That could attract the police.
When he is on the move, as he often is, Mr. Warner walks exceptionally fast. Covering tremendous stretches of sidewalk each day keeps him fit. He is often pulled away from his Eighth Avenue post on business.
Mr. Warner carries only one or two cartons of cigarettes in his backpack, because that is the most he cares to lose should he be arrested. So each time he and his two partners run out, Mr. Warner takes the train up to Harlem, or walks a few blocks east to meet one of his half-dozen suppliers, mostly immigrants from West Africa.
At the end of the day, Mr. Warner returns to Harlem, where he often stays with his girlfriend. But even in bed, he is unable to put his day entirely behind him. His girlfriend sometimes complains, he said, that he mutters the word "Newports" again and again in his sleep.
Because of an editing error, an article on Tuesday about the sale of individual cigarettes in New York City misstated the timing of the city's ban on smoking in parks and pedestrian plazas and on beaches. It goes into effect May 23; it is not currently in effect. The article also misstated, in some copies, the history of a 1975 ban on smoking in movie theaters in New York. It was imposed by state law, not by the Bloomberg administration.


The lotus like feet of Krishna is one that gives strength.
The lotus like feet of Krishna is forever and infallible.
The lotus like feet of Krishna is the destroyer of attachment.
Daily pray the lotus like feet of Krishna.