Awarded Rubicon Grants round 2008-3

Iron in cells: from rust to functional protein
Dr L.E. Bevers (f) 29-03-1978, Delft University of Technology -> Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute (USA), 24 months
Life is not possible without iron, yet free iron is also dangerous for cells. A storage protein that can hold 4500 iron molecules is nature's solution to this problem. The researchers are studying how this iron is once again released from this 'rusty' protein.

Synthesis of the senses
V.C. Blau (f) 27-08-1978, Maastricht University -> Vanderbilt University, Multisensory Research Laboratory (USA), 24 months
As soon as we are born, we are bombarded with information from different senses. The aim of this project is to investigate how the brains of young children learn which information from the senses belongs together and which does not.

Engineering a protein nanopore for catalysis on the single molecule level
A.J. Boersma (m) 20-03-1979, University of Groningen -> University of Oxford, Department of Chemistry (GB), 24 months
The stream of ions through a nanopore, a membrane protein, can be influenced by allowing reactions of organic molecules to take place in the pores. With this approach a chemical conversion at the level of a single molecule can be followed by measuring the conductance. In this project a catalyst shall be placed in a pore, thereby allowing catalysis to be studied at the level of a single molecule.

The impact of frequency on borrowing
Dr A. S. Dogruöz (f) 14-11-1976, Tilburg University -> University of California Santa Barbara, Department of Linguistics (USA), 12 months
In the Netherlands, the Turkish language borrows elements from Dutch. This study shall investigate how the frequencies of words and combinations of words in spoken Dutch influence what is borrowed.

Interactions in two spatial dimensions
P.J.A. van Heijster (m) 10-09-1981, CWI (Centre for Mathematics and Computer Science, Amsterdam) -> Brown University, Division of Applied Mathematics (USA), 24 months
Localised 'patterns' such as waves and pulses can interact in an extremely complex manner: They can collide, repel each other, etc. These interactions are still scarcely understood. The researchers propose investigating this in a step-by-step manner with the aid of a specific model.

Characterisation of (cancer) stem cells
K.G.L. Hermans (f) 08-04-1976, Erasmus University Rotterdam -> Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network, Department of Cellular & Molecular Biology (CAN), 24 months
Tissue is constructed from different types of cells, with stem cells forming the basis of this. The same is true for a tumour, the cancer stem cell. However, it is not clear what the difference is between a 'normal' and a cancer stem cell. This research project aims to shed light on this difference.

Quantum theory and categorical logic
C.J.M. Heunen (m) 21-03-1982, Radboud University Nijmegen -> Oxford University (GB), 24 months
Quantum computers have the incomprehensible characteristic that q-bits do not have to be either 0 or 1. How do you describe such systems? How can you logically discuss these? What does mathematical proof mean in this setting? The researcher shall seek to find the logical structure of the quantum theory, and in so doing hopes to contribute to the information and communication technology of the future.

Bending, knotting and stringing
L. Hollands (f) 16-07-1981, University of Amsterdam -> California Institute of Technology, Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy (USA), 24 months
How does the counting of surfaces in a six-dimensional space relate to the unravelling of knots in three dimensions? And what does it say about black holes? The researchers shall try to obtain more insight into mathematical structures that arise from the string theory.

Mutations against infection
F. van Maldegem (f) 14-01-1980, AMC, University of Amsterdam -> MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (GB), 24 months
If the body becomes infected, antibodies must be made that are specifically targeted against the pathogens. B-lymphocytes in the lymph nodes mutate their own DNA for this purpose. The researchers shall study how the lymph nodes ensure that only the correct genes change.

Managing Markets and Manners in Early-modern Europe and Japan
D. Mervart (m) 21-06-1975, Chiba University (JP) -> UL, Japanese Studies (NL), 12 maanden
The research traces parallels between moral and political debate responding to the rise of markets and social change in 18th-century Japan and Western Europe. It appears that it was the moral concern with 'commerce' as source of 'luxury' and 'corruption of manners' that shaped the vocabulary of political economy and sociology and that provides the most promising common ground for comparing the early modern intellectual and moral experience of these two distinct worlds.

Mutant p53 in cancer
Dr P.A.J. Muller (f) 07-10-1980, University Medical Centre Utrecht -> University of Glasgow, The Beatson institute for Cancer Research (GB), 24 months
Tumours in which the protein p53 is mutated, spread at a dangerously rapid rate through the body. In this research project the mechanism behind this spread shall be studied and specific therapies to inhibit the spread of mutant p53 tumours shall be examined.

The cause of ice ages
A.W. Omta (m) 14-09-1978, VU University Amsterdam-> Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA), 24 months
For the past 2.5 million years ice ages have alternated with warmer time periods. During ice ages the CO2 levels in the atmosphere are lower than in the period between ice ages. This research shall analyse the role of the ocean circulation in these variations in CO2 level.

Understanding photosynthesis: start small
Dr B.F. van Oort (m) 01-03-1980, Wageningen University and Research Centre -> VU University Amsterdam, Department Biophysics (NL), 12 months
The growing world population and welfare demands increasingly more energy, whereas at the same time CO2 emissions must be strongly reduced. The natural process of photosynthesis can help to achieve these objectives by producing fuel from water and CO2 using sunlight. The researchers want to increase the efficiency of photosynthesis. To this end they shall use advanced microscopy to study how photosynthesis works at the molecular level.

Marsilio Ficino's Timaeus commentary: scientific speculations of a Renaissance interpreter
J. Prins (f) 30-11-1967, Utrecht University -> Oxford University, Faculty of Philosophy (GB), 24 months
This study into the Timaeus commentary of the Renaissance philosopher Marsilio shall, using a yet to be compiled critical edition, shall try to give answers to two questions: why as his starting point for his natural philosophy did Ficino prefer the scientific model from the Timaeus, even though that was no longer completely up to date, and why does his commentary shed light on tensions between the contending world views that would lead to rifts?

Falling under the spell of mixed feelings
Dr M. van Putten (f) 27-12-1979, Catholic University Leuven -> University of Amsterdam, Work and Organisational Psychology (NL), 12 months
Passivity gets in the way of good decision making. This often occurs because there is no single clear reason for a choice (e.g. both options are equally attractive). The researchers shall examine whether mixed feelings are an important and as yet unrecognised cause of passivity.

Insight into gamma-ray bursts
Dr J. Racusin (f) 31-08-1981, Pennsylvania State University (USA) -> University of Amsterdam, Astronomy (NL), 12 months
The most energetic explosions in the universe come from the dramatic deaths of certain types of stars. This research aims to understand how these objects work and why they are so unusual, by using multi-wavelength observations from ground and space-based telescopes.

Computer quantifies injury due to chronic lung disease
 E. M. van Rikxoort (f) 22-04-1982, University Medical Centre Utrecht -> University of California Los Angeles, Department of Radiological Sciences, Thoracic Imaging Group (USA), 24 months
Lung diseases can be visualised by making a 3-D image of the lungs. The researchers shall teach a computer to quantify abnormalities in these images in order to establish which medicines work best.

The embarrassment of poverty: 'Native' Jewish responses to 'foreign' immigration
Dr J. V. Roitman (f) 28-01-1971, University of Pennsylvania -> University of London (GB), 24 months
An immigrating (poor) Jew was not particularly welcome in existing Jewish communities in Holland (17th century) and in London (19th century). The research shall consider all aspects of the 'welcome' of these ' foreign' Jews by their naturalised fellow believers.

Increased quality of life for cancer survivors
Dr I. Soerjomataram (f) 11-04-1977, Erasmus Medical Centre ->Harvard University, Harvard Initiative for Global Health (USA), 12 months
Important developments in healthcare are leading to an increased chance of survival after colorectal cancer, yet it is not known if this results in an increase in healthy years of life. This study shall investigate whether an increase in survival is associated with an increase in healthy years of life after cancer.

Islamic law in action
N. Sonneveld (f) 08-07-1975, Leiden University -> University of London, School of Oriental and African Studies (GB), 13 months
Islamic law is interpreted and implemented in different ways in various Muslim countries. The researcher wants to map and explain the differences by investigating how Islamic law is applied in court by judges, lawyers and justiciables.

Emulsions in porous rocks
 J.H.B. Sprakel (m) 10-06-1980, Wageningen University and Research Centre-> Harvard University, Experimental Soft Condensed Matter Group (USA), 24 months
The flow of fluids through porous materials is important in many situations, for example in
oil extraction. The fluids concerned often contain particles which are of equal size to the pores. This research shall investigate how events at the level of the pores influence the behaviour of the flows at a larger scale.

On the look-out: Immune detection of Candida albicans
K. Strijbis (f) 16-05-1980, AMC University of Amsterdam-> Whitehead Institute (USA), 24 months
Infections caused by the yeast Candida albicans frequently occur in patients with a weakened immune system. In healthy people yeast infections are prevented because cells from the immune system patrol throughout the body to detect, recognise and kill the yeast cells. Researchers shall study the molecules that play a role in this recognition process.

European cyber-infrastructure for genotype-to-phenotype networks
Dr M.A. Swertz (m) 13-03-1976, University Medical Centre Groningen -> European Bioinformatics Institute (GB), 24 months
Recently, many new methods have become available for the study of genetic characteristics/diseases (phenotypes) such as asthma and diabetes. The development of these diseases is determined by several genes. If we are not careful then we will drown in the wealth of genetic, molecular and phenotypic information that the new methods are providing. This project shall investigate new bioinformatics methods for flexible software to combine data in a European context so that genotype-to-phenotype pathways can be mapped.

Tibetan transcription of Tangut characters
Dr C.P. Tai (m) 25-12-1977, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences -> Leiden University, Linguistics (NL), 12 months
Tangut is an extinction medieval language in present-day North-West China. The language has a non-phonological character writing system, but the pronunciation of Tangut characters is unclear. From the ruin of Khara-Khoto 30 fragments have been obtained in which Tangut characters have transcribed phonologically with Tibetan spelling. This research shall study the sound of Tangut characters by analysing their Tibetan transcription.

Relative adjectives in Dutch child language
Dr E. Tribushinina (f) 04-09-1979, Utrecht University -> University of Antwerp (BE), 24 months
Adults know that an elephant can be referred to as small compared to other elephants and a mouse as large compared to other mice. However, previous research has revealed that young children do not yet understand the relative nature of these adjectives. The researchers shall ascertain how the understanding of relative words develops in Dutch children.

Danger of suffocation in warmed up streams
Dr W.C.E.P. Verberk (m) 30-06-1976, Radboud University Nijmegen -> University of Plymouth, Marine Biology and Ecology Research Centre (GB), 24 months
Stream organisms can suffocate in warm water because the quantity of dissolved oxygen decreases, whereas their oxygen requirement increases. The researcher shall use measurements of oxygen use in the lab and the spread of oxygen in the field to predict whether climate change results in the suffocation of stream organisms.

How age results in infertility
Dr F.J. van Werven (m) 06-03-1979, University Medical Centre Utrecht -> Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The David Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research (USA), 24 months
A special type of cell division is required for the production of reproductive cells. During the ageing process this cell division process goes wrong more frequently and can lead to genetic disorders such as Down's syndrome. This study shall determine which processes in ageing cells can go wrong during the production of reproductive cells.

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