The objective of the project is the elaboration of new magnetic nanostructures and the investigation of their magnetic properties. These magnetic nanostructures will be elaborated in the 'bottom-up" approach. Once developed the original nanostructures, we will perform in-situ the investigation of their magnetic properties (reversal of magnetization, superparamagnetism an interactions). The control of the epitaxial growth under ultra-high vacuum conditions will allow the fabrication of new kinds of nanostructures. Two methods will be used to achieve this goal: self organisation and co-adsorption of two immiscible metals in volume. In the self-organisation approach, the host group has the experience of previous work during the last ten years. Nanostructures with macroscopic order architecture will be created. Current systems wil te Co and Fe nanostructures grown on templates such as Au(l 11) vicinais or Pt(l 11) vicinais. We wil explore the combination of step arrays with dislocations networks since the pioneering system of Co/Au(788) has already revealed promising results. The second approach to develop nanostructures will be the co-adsorption of two immiscible metals in volume under surface stresses induced by the substrate. This happens when the adsorbed metals have a bulk lattice parameter respectively smaller and larger than the one of the substrate. Systems such as Co and Ag on Ru or Rh substrates will be studied. This will also provide supported dilute magnetic systems interesting for nanomagnetism. After the development of the nanostructures, we will focus on their magnetic properties. We will study the energetic barrier for magnetisation reversal of one particle versus the size of the particle, which is still a challenging question in such small magnetic nanostructures. We will also study other magnetic properties that are essential in information storage and/or in spin electronics, like magnetic anisotropy, and magnetisation flipping processes.

Since their first demonstration in 1995, Bose-Einstein condensâtes have become an attractive tool for further developments in fields as various as integrated atom chips, atomic clocks and quantum computing. Thus, it is important to understand the properties of these condensâtes in detail, and in particular the condensed matter behaviour of their phase properties. We propose to investigate scattering, fusion, and interference of two simultaneously trapped Bose-Einstein condensâtes. The main goal is to study the influence of topological macroscopic excitations - vortices - on the phase coherence phenomena and dynamical properties. The present project focuses on the experimental approach. A direct interaction with the theoretical group in the host institution will help extracting the physical picture of the dissipative dynamics of vortex-antivortex annihilation under these conditions. The work will be done in the 'Quantum Gases' group run by Prof. Dr. J. T. M. Walraven and Prof. Dr. G. V. Shlyapnikov, at AMOLF, Amsterdam. This group has demonstrated its expertise in both experimental and theoretical work on ultra cold gases and Bose Einstein Condensation. The host group has agreed to embed this proposal into their research program. A preliminary experiment has already been done with the experimental apparatus at the host institute, which demonstrates the possibility of driving the collision of two magnetically trapped Bose-Einstein condensâtes. The setup will be upgraded to allow the proposed vortex experiments. Scattering will be studied by driving fast collisions between high-density condensâtes; fusion by slowly colliding high-density condensâtes; interference by overlapping low-density condensâtes. In this setting the applicant will develop high level scientific skills complementary to those he has already developed during his PhD thesis. He will also participate in international conferences and in managing and supervising.

Chronic inflammation is a systemic disorder resulting from the dysregulation of multiple, mechanistically unrelated higher order biological processes. This Consortium will promote the integration of multi-disciplinary research groups to achieve a thorough understanding of directed inflammatory cell migration towards and across injured tissues. To achieve its goals, the MAIN Consortium will be based on four developmental Research Programs (Tool Development Program, Target Identification Program, Target Validation Program and Drug Development Program), three Support Facilities (Imaging, Proteomics and Microarrays) and one Core Facility (Bioinformatics). The Research Programs are tightly interconnected in a logical sequence of highly integrated activities. The Tool Development Program (TDI) will develop technological tools that are instrumental to make advancements in the field of cell migration. The Target Identification Program (TIP) will identify signaling pathways and/or molecular networks involved in defined aspects of inflammatory cell migration. The Target Validation Program (TVP) will validate targets emerging from the TIP by testing them across in vitro and in vivo models, different inducing stimuli and manipulating conditions. The TVP combines the products of the TOP and the TIP to provide a unified explanation on how multiple 'inputs' received by inflammatory cells result in spatially and temporally coordinated 'outputs', affecting the migratory behavior of such cells. The Drug Development Program (DDP) will transfer selected targets into a pipeline of drug development, through the SMEs of the Consortium. The Support Facilities (Imaging, Microarrays and Proteomics) and the Bioinformatics Core will provide technological and biocomputational support to the programs. To spread excellence through education and training, MAIN will implement a Training and Education Program (TEP), with practical courses and workshops for gradua#

The main objective of the project is the improvement of tools for the machining of heat resistant aeronautic materials. This improvement will translate into larger tool life, better finishing quality of the part or process speed up. This will involve a significant reduction of the machining costs of these materials, and thus the manufacturing costs of the aeronautical parts. The following processes will be evaluated: drilling, milling and turning. The materials that will be tested are: Ni- Fe alloys, Ni alloys and TiAl intermetallic. The project aims at improving the tools by means of: -redesign of the tools -development and applications of superhard and high toughness nanocomposite coatings -development of advanced machining processes (high pressure cooling machining) The nanocomposite coatings will be optimized at laboratory level on samples with the assistance of its characterization (hardness, friction, wear, adhesion, etc) and surface analysis. The optimised treatments will be applied on the selected tools. The tools performance will be tested both at laboratory level and in industrial conditions: life, failure mode or cooling required will be some parameters that will be tested. Additionally, the failure mechanism of the tested tools will be evaluated, so the optimisation of the tools can be properly oriented. Finally, the tools will be used in the manufacturing of demonstrators, so the developed processes are validated in real working conditions. The results of this project will lead to a decrease in the manufacturing cost of difficult to machine materials, which will increase competitiveness of aeronautical industry. Furthermore, in the case of Ni alloys or TiAl intermetallic a reduction of these costs will allow the inclusion of a higher number of parts manufactured with these materials in aero engines. In the long term this will result in the production of smaller engines, with improved fuel efficiency, reduced #

The principal aim of this project is the study and development of tailor made multicomponent polymeric blends coming from post-industrial rejects, suitable to embed nanoparticles. The novel materials will be addressed to multisectoral applications such as lighting, automotive, textile and buildings, using different technologies such as injection moulding, fibre spinning and extrusion. The task will be accomplished through the integration of molecular modelling in rational design process, considering main aspects which characterise the development of novel materials: characteristics expected, components to gain the desired properties, technologies available to process materials. In a context of sustainability, up-grading post industrial rejects goes beyond simple re-use and aim to obtain eco-designed materials from sources that actually represent a production cost and are a waste problem. Through nano particles embedding, polymers matrices reaches high level of competitiveness towards raw materials. Project will investigate aspects regarding micro-nano phase behaviour of matrices themselves, interfaces between nano materials and matrices to obtain thermal resistance and stability, combined with transparent aspect and mechanical resistance, which are basic for the applications named before. Project will explore also how injection moulding, extrusion, and fibre spinning technologies can respond to the need of an economic way to process novel composites. The consortium consists of 10 partners from 3 different EC states, 2 different AC and 1 Mediterranean country). Universities (4), Research institutes (2), and SMEs (4) are represented in the team. In particular the project will considerably contribute to strengthen ERA bringing together researchers from east Europe and Mediterranean country with EC states.

Ceramics have an established market in industrial applications like metal forming, machining and some mechanical components. Most ceramics are prepared by conventional powder metallurgy (PM) and about 60 % of all components need some kind of post sintering machining operation. Electro Discharge Machining (EDM) is a process that could machine these hard materials, providing that the ceramics have a sufficiently high electrical conductivity. The major advantages of EDM are the accurate machining and the ability to produce complex shapes. Although some ceramic materials can be machined by EDM (e.g. TiN, TiC,..), the EDM process and ceramic materials have never been co-developed for each other. The MONCERAT project aims the research in the development of new electro-conductive ceramic materials as well as the development of new EDM generators. An important aim of the MONCERAT project is to gain a basic understanding on the interaction between the ceramic material (e.g. microstructure) and the EDM machining process. Further, the project aims to study how material properties of EDM'd ceramic components can be integrated into the design phase. The production of new ceramic materials will be partially based on the use of high quality nano-powders produced by the SHS process (Self propagating High Temperature Synthesis). The MONCERAT project expects a large potential impact on the use and development of ceramic materials for automotive, aerospace, machine tool, process engineering, health care, biomedicai, wear, micro-mechanics and environmental applications. The consortium consists of 11 partners from 5 European countries. The uniqueness of the MONCERAT project is the strong co-operation between ceramic material producers, EDM machine builders and potential users (all SME's) of ceramic materials in order to extend the fundamental knowledge, needed to developed the ceramic materials of the future that can optimally be shaped by EDM.'

Ambient pressure oxidation determines the stability, functionality and long term performance of nanomaterials in their working environment. The NanO2 consortium will clarify, how nanomaterials behave and function under environmental oxygen conditions. The influence of the size and shape of nanoparticles on ambient pressure oxidation will systematically investigated in a revolutionary approach: Surface sensitive in-situ techniques for ambient oxygen pressures and high temperatures will be combined with ab-initio thermodynamic calculations. NanO2 brings together the specialists in Europe with unique expertise in oxidation processes as well as novel experimental and theoretical techniques. NanO2 aims to grow nano-sized Pd, Rh, Ru, and Cu particles with defined size and shape on selected oxide substrates, such as AI2O3, MgO, TiO2 and ZnO. Within four workpackages the key barriers to control ambient pressure oxidation of nanomaterials will be attacked: the influence of nano-size and -shape, the formation of sub-surface oxygen, the ab-initio modelling of the oxidation of nanosized materials at high oxygen pressures and high temperatures and nanomaterials-substrate interaction including oxygen spillover effects. The control of oxidation under operational conditions is of utmost importance for the enhanced performance of catalysts involved in applications ranging from fuel cells and chemical production to electronic sensors for automotive and environmental monitoring applications. On a more general scheme, the atomistic knowledge, prediction and control, how nanomaterials behave and eventually deterioriate under environmental conditions, will bring increased security to a European society becoming increasingly more dependent on nanotechnological systems and structures. The acquired knowledge from this European project may lay the basis for further studies expanded to a whole range of nanomaterials and corrosive environments.

The goal of the proposed research project is to reconstruct a human cornea in vitro, for use both in corneal grafting and as an alternative to animal models for cosmeto-pharmacotoxicity testing. The project responds to the urgent need to develop new forms of corneal replacements as alternatives to the use of donor corneas, in view of of the world-wide shortage of donors, the increasing risk of transmissable diseases, the widespread use of corrective surgery which renders corneas unsuitable for grafting, and the severe limitations of currently available synthetic polymer-based artificial corneas (keratoprostheses). The originality of the proposal lies in the use of recombinant human extracellular matrix proteins to build a nano-engineered scaffold to support growth of the different cell types found in the cornea, cells to be derived from human adult stem cell pools. The development of a reconstructed human cornea will represent a real breakthrough, allowing diseased or damaged corneas to be replaced by tissue-engineered human corneal equivalents that resemble in all respects their natural counterparts. The proposal also responds to impending ED legislation banning the marketing of cosmetic products that have been tested on animals, using procedures such as the Draize rabbit eye irritation test. The development of tissue engineered corneas will provide a non-animal alternative which will therefore alleviate animal suffering. The project will lead to a transformation of industry to meet societal needs using innovative, knowledge-based approaches integrating nanotechnology and biotechnology. The project brings together 14 participants with complementary expertise from 9 different countries, including basic scientists, ophthalmologists and industrialists (three SMEs). Ethical and standardisation aspects will also be included.

The goal of this research project is to study and develop novel synergistic technologies for the next generation of high performance biochips, for future applications e.g. in accellerated drug discovery, diagnostics and personalized medicine. One of the key technologies relies on a predictable self-organization of fluids, using both static and dynamic formats will be utilized. The formats will be combined to overcome current bottlenecks in the automation of high throughput assays, and will also be used for the development of a new concept for automated chip replication. Other complementary technologies deal with surface-expanded high density bioprobe arrays, including the use of novel polymers. Also, novel magnetic bio nanowires, controlled by an external magnetic field onto a platform of magnetic nanodots, will be explored.It is anticipated that the use of these technologies will provide unique possibilities to increase ligand density, as well as enhanced kinetics, resulting in enhanced sensitivity and faster assay performance. A third technology based on externally applied surface acoustic waves will be incorporated into the platform, yielding extremely efficient agitation of nanodroplets. Finally, a nanoelectrochemical detection system will be developed. The technologies will be combined to yield an optimized nanoarray chip, including the novel fluid agitation and bio-nanowires principles. The optimized structure will be tested using standard bioassays, and the results obtained will be compared with performance data, obtained from similar experiments with state of the art biochips.

Molecular events occurring at the nanoscale impact on the macroscopic level in many different areas and rules for controlled manufacture at the nanoscale are important to understand. The ELISHA project is designed to improve knowledge in molecular interfaces and enable manufacture of new sensors, by interrogating the formation and signal generation of antibodies and electroconductive surfaces. The project is based on: 1) a proven series of experimental observations that antibody loaded electroconductive matrices give concentration dependant responses when interrogated with DC pulsed and AC impedance electronics and 2) the knowledge and belief that the project will bring breakthroughs in nanoscale interfacial electrochemistry, leading to novel generic platforms for electro-interfaced-immunosensors to be produced and commercialised. This is the primary objective of the NMP workprogramme, 'to promote real breakthroughs, based on scientific and technical excellence'. The project targets several priority areas in nanotechnology, NMP-2002-3.4.1.2.1.'the interface between biological and non-biological entities' and NMP-2002-3.4.4.3 - 'New generations of sensors, actuators and systems for safety and security of people and environment'. Novel materials are expected, NMP-2002- 3.4.2.3.1 . and the project is directly in the area of nanobiotechnology, NMP-1.2. The project goes beyond the 'state of the art' in many areas and will give significant strategic impact for the EU, addressing community societal objectives by producing new methods to rapidly detect 1) cancer markers, 2) fluoroquinolines antibiotics and 3) prion type peptides, enabling rapid and point of care detection. The project is structured into 9 workpackages including antibody production, sensor fabrication, immobilisation methods, signal generation and electronics production. A prototype instrument is the material deliverable. A world class team of 9 partners has been brought together to make ELISHA a reality'