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Generation of ocean lithosphere by seafloor spreading at mid-ocean ridges is one of the fundamental geological processes operating on Earth. One of the most important yet most intractable problems is to understand how the magma reservoir beneath ridges generates the lower crust, especially at fast spreading rates. Gabbroic rocks from the lower crust are normally inaccessible, but are now within reach of sampling as a result of the previous successes of scientific ocean drilling expeditions to a unique site within superfast spreading rate crust in the Pacific Ocean. A series of three previous expeditions to Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) Site 1256 have penetrated through 1500m of upper crustal layers, allowing a new expedition to extensively sample the lower crust for the first time. This will be acheived during IODP Expedition 335 which will return to Site 1256 to deepen the hole still further, hopefully providing a unique suite of lower oceanic crustal samples that will yield unique insights into magmatic and tectonic processes involved in seafloor spreading. As part of this endeavour, palaeomagnetic data will be collected from recovered core pieces and will be critical to understanding the evolution of the lower crust at this site. These data will provide valuable information on the direction and strength of magnetization locked into the gabbroic rocks we expect to encounter, providing a marker that can be used to infer the amount of tectonic rotation that has affected the site and insights into the contribution that lower crustal rocks make to marine magnetic anomalies. In addition, we intend to use a combination of palaeomagnetic data and geophysical images of the inside of the borehole wall to reorient some of the core pieces recovered by drilling, thereby allowing other directional properties (e.g. structural data) to be restored to the correct geographical reference frame.

To establish and deliver a business development and diversification strategy for the Port of Fowey pro actively managing resources for commercial and societal benefits.

To develop and embed a scientific method to certify the purity and quality of Cannabidiol to ensure it is a clean and safe ingredient to be used in the development of new innovative nanotechnology-based formulations. To enable improvements in stability, shelf life and enhance health benefits.

This project is an exciting opportunity to develop novel silver-hydroxyapatite nanocoatings to reduce failure of dental implants. The interdisciplinary project combines nanotechnology with leading biomedical science expertise, in a real-world clinical setting to investigate the biocompatibility of antibacterial nanocoatings with oral cells to improve abutment integrity for periodontal health. Despite the high success rates of dental implants, 5-10% of them are still reported to fail and must be removed. One of the most common causes of implant failure is peri-implantitis, which is caused by bacterial biofilm formation on the implant surfaces. Modification of the surface nanotopography has been identified as one of the strategies to control bacterial adherence to implants and improve clinical outcomes. Silver nanoparticles are known for their antibacterial properties, whereas hydroxyapatite is a chemical similar to the mineral component of natural bone and teeth. Our team has demonstrated that silver-hydroxyapatite hybrid nanocoatings applied to the surface of medical implants are antibacterial but also biocompatible with human osteoblasts, suggesting good fusion of the implants to the jaw bone is achieved. However, shrinkage of the gingiva at the abutment margins, with subsequent infection and micro-leakage in the sub-gingival crevice can lead to implant failure, as well as other oral health problems.