Shock tube study at High-pressure of Oxygenated fuels for Chemical Kinetic. The project will start in September 2013 and end in September 2015. Fundamental data such as ignition delay times and species profiles at practical conditions are invaluable for the improvement and extension of chemical kinetics models to engine applications. High pressure shock tubes are ideal to perform such measurements and have been used during last decades. This device has been already used in France however never built to reach engines relevant conditions and used in this purpose. The project aim is to develop a unique high pressure shock tube for autoignition measurements. First step will be to obtain measurements and compare them with literature results to validate the tube, and then the apparatus will be operated to study and characterize oxygenated compounds which would be used as fuel. This is a research area of very high impact in renewable energy and combustion science and technology. High pressure combustion has been recognised as central for clean and efficient advanced combustion energy technologies. This research program will be divided into three main parts: - The first part consists in the design and manufacture of a high-pressure shock tube; - The second part consists in the validation of the high-pressure shock; - The third part is based on the use of the shock tube in order to study the oxidation process of different fuels. All results of this project will be published in peer-reviewed journals and all work content will be disseminated through international conferences. The team is consists of five people. Dr. Lefort is the project leader, Associate Professor and is involved at 95% in the project. Dr. Kéromnés, Associate Professor, is involved at 85%. Pr. Le Moyne, Professor, is involved at 15%. M. Erard is a technician and involved at 20%. The post-doctoral researcher will be hired for this project and involved at 100%.The partners for this project are highly complementary thanks to their different backgrounds which cover all the physical and chemical aspects of the combustion process, including mixture preparation, combustion initiation, propagation and chemical kinetics. Moreover, they have a strong experimental background in both the development of experimental devices and the development of analysis tools and/or methods in order to study the combustion process. Finally, they also cover a large numerical background thanks to 3D modelling, 0D modelling and the development of chemical kinetics mechanisms. This project is to create a new research field into the DRIVE laboratory. The grant requested is 228800 €. There is no doubt that the results of this project will be very valuable to the project team to build collaborations leading to breakthroughs in the field. Keys words: high pressure shock tube, autoignition, biofuel, chemical kinetic combustion.

The prevalence of obesity and its comorbidities has reached pandemic proportions and its economic and social burden highlights the need to develop therapeutic strategies beyond traditional lifestyle interventions. It is now well established that the obese brain is stressed, and the hypothesis that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in hypothalamic cells is causally linked to obesity and associated comorbidities has been well supported. We have identified a novel thioredoxin-like protein called SELENOT that regulates redox homeostasis. The genetic invalidation of SELENOT in mice is lethal in utero and the reduction of its expression in POMC neurons or beta-pancreatic cells, major sites of metabolic integration, causes an alteration of hormonal secretions. Conversely, administration of a peptide mimetic of SELENOT, named PSELT, attenuates obesity and hyperglycemia in a pilot study performed in mice. Our goal is to demonstrate that SELENOT is an important regulator of ER stress and POMC production associated with energy homeostasis, and that the SELENOT peptide we developed may represent a valuable therapeutic tool against obesity and type 2 diabetes. In particular, we would like to answer the following questions: 1. What are the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of ER stress by SELENOT? 2. What is the role of SELENOT in POMC neuron function? 3. What are the metabolic effects of the PSELT peptide and its mechanism of action. The data obtained will be essential in order to use the PSELT as a therapy against obesity and its comorbidities, which represent a priority issue for the French health system.

A quarter of the adult population in industrialized countries experiences mental health issues during their lifetime. In France, despite the existence of specialized legislation, mental/neuro-psychiatric disorders are estimated to contribute to 32% of the global disease burden. Yet overall, and in France in particular, mental illness receives insufficient attention despite its substantial contribution to the nonfatal disease burden, chronic nature, and estimated 20-year reduction in life expectancy. To a large extent, in fact, premature mortality in individuals with mental illness is due to non-communicable physical disorders that have not been properly diagnosed or treated. In turn, in the Covid-19 pandemic context, the mental illness burden seems to be growing at an alarming rate and will likely continue to do so in the coming years. Another deleterious aspect of the current situation is that it exacerbates existing risk behaviors (i.e., increased smoking, alcohol use, snacking, sedentariness). MEMORIES is a 4-year multi-disciplinary project with 5 inter-related work packages; its main working hypothesis addresses the role of mental health status as a potentially modifiable determinant of nutrition-related chronic disorders such as obesity and type 2 diabetes among adults. MEMORIES has 3 specific aims: (1) estimate and rank the relative risk of nutrition-related chronic disorders associated with different mental disorders; (2) develop and validate an epidemiological, prospectively applicable mental multi-morbidity index; (3) investigate the prospective association of mental multi-morbidity with nutrition-related chronic disorders (obesity, type 2 diabetes and their comorbidity) in general (the French NutriNet-Santé e-cohort) and vulnerable (e.g., smokers, heavy alcohol users, individuals with poor dietary quality and/or high levels of sedentariness) population samples, and estimate the proportion of avoidable morbidity and mortality related to these disorders. The overarching goal of MEMORIES is to contribute to the reduction of morbidity and premature mortality rates in individuals with mental illnesses, based on new scientific tools and knowledge derived from a rigorous multidisciplinary approach encompassing epidemiology, nutrition, psychology, endocrinology, biostatistics, preventive medicine, and public health. The results can thus guide clinical practice, primary and secondary prevention, epidemiological and intervention research, and public health policy.

Innovations in food packaging mostly concern food shelf-life and consumer safety by the inhibition or prevention of microbial growth onto food, thanks to the development of antimicrobial active packaging. In particular, bio-based biodegradable polymers and antimicrobial natural compounds generate a growing interest in the sustainability of packaged food. The aim of NanoBAP project is to investigate the potential of electrospun nanofibers in the field of active packaging, through the development of an antimicrobial and antioxidant coating based on biosourced materials for the combined release of multiple natural active compounds from a PLA film. Two strategies based on electrospinning will be fully investigated: from the design and characterisation of physico-chemical properties of the coated films and the release/transfer mechanisms of active compounds up to the evaluation of in vitro and model/simplified food antimicrobial activity. The final innovative proposed packaging solution would be of key importance for the packing of sliced or textured fresh foods. In conclusion, the outcome of this project will generate fully bio-based and biodegradable active films with the potential to substantially mitigate plastic pollution and to reduce food waste. This will make a both scientific and economical step forward to “zero waste” concept.

RESPONSE supports the Lighthouse cities of Dijon (FR) and Turku (FI) and their Fellow cities Brussels (BE), Zaragoza (ES), Botosani (RO), Ptolemaida (GR), Gabrovo (BU) and Severodonetsk (UA) to facilitate them deliver positive energy blocks and districts. Through RESPONSE ,the two LHs will achieve a local RES penetration of 11.2 GWh/y, energy savings of 3,090 MWh/y and an emission reduction of 9, 799 tons CO2eq/y within their districts. To achieve this goal, RESPONSE demonstrates 10 Integrated Solutions (ISs), comprising of 86 innovative elements (technologies, tools, methods), that are being monitored with specific impact metrics (KPIs). It attracts the interest of various stakeholders by generating innovative business models enabling the upscale and replication of the solutions forming a validated roadmap for sustainable cities across Europe and beyond. RESPONSE adopts an energy transition strategy, which includes 5 Transformation Axes (TAs), encompassing the 10 ISs. TA#1 focuses on transforming existing and new building stock into Energy Positive and Smart-ready. TA#2 focuses on the decarbonization of the electricity grid and the district heating/cooling systems, supporting fossil-based regions in transition and the development of energy communities. TA#3 proposes grid flexibility strategies and novel storage systems for optimizing energy flows, maximize self-consumption and reduce grid stress. TA#4 links existing CIPs with apps and other digital infrastructure to enable digitalisation of services and connected city ecosystems, integrating also smart e-Mobility to promote the decarbonisation of the mobility sector. TA#5 offers interdisciplinary citizen engagement and co-creation practices putting citizen at the forefront of shaping the cities they live in and towards the development of each city’s 2050 own bold city-vision. Special focus is given to creating resilient and safe cities increasing quality of life and lowering the impacts of climate change.