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Background We investigated 10-year trends in deceased donor kidney quality expressed as the kidney donor risk index (KDRI) and subsequent effects on survival outcomes in a European transplant population. Methods Time trends in the crude and standardized KDRI between 2005 and 2015 by recipient age, sex, diabetic status and country were examined in 24 177 adult kidney transplant recipients in seven European countries. We determined 5-year patient and graft survival probabilities and the risk of death and graft loss by transplant cohort (Cohort 1: 2005–06, Cohort 2: 2007–08, Cohort 3: 2009–10) and KDRI quintile. Results The median crude KDRI increased by 1.3% annually, from 1.31 [interquartile range (IQR) 1.08–1.63] in 2005 to 1.47 (IQR 1.16–1.90) in 2015. This increase, i.e. lower kidney quality, was driven predominantly by increases in donor age, hypertension and donation after circulatory death. With time, the gap between the median standardized KDRI in the youngest (18–44 years) and oldest (>65 years) recipients widened. There was no difference in the median standardized KDRI by recipient sex. The median standardized KDRI was highest in Austria, the Netherlands and the Basque Country (Spain). Within each transplant cohort, the 5-year patient and graft survival probability were higher for the lowest KDRIs. There was no difference in the patient and graft survival outcomes across transplant cohorts, however, over time the survival probabilities for the highest KDRIs improved. Conclusions The overall quality of deceased donor kidneys transplanted between 2005 and 2015 has decreased and varies between age groups and countries. Overall patient and graft outcomes remain unchanged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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• For the first time, beryllium and titanium beryllide as massive pellets were irradiated in a nuclear reactor at temperatures of 710−1040 K up to production of 430–653 appm tritium and 4144–5992 appm helium, respectively. • The tritium retention in irradiated Be-7at.%Ti pellets is much lower than that in Be pellets, for example, 1 and 0.5 % to 48 and 34 % at 940 and 1040 K, respectively. • Open channels along grain and sub-grain boundaries are formed under neutron irradiation in beryllium, essentially contributing to the enhanced tritium release. Titanium beryllide is considered as an advanced neutron multiplier in the Helium Cooled Pebble Bed (HCPB) blanket of DEMO. Neutron irradiation of titanium beryllide together with beryllium as a reference material in material testing nuclear reactors can give essential data for the DEMO blanket design. Be-7at.%Ti (Be-7Ti) as well as Be were irradiated in the HFR, Petten, the Netherlands, at four temperatures of 710, 800, 940, 1040 K up to 23, 31, 36, 38 dpa, respectively. The post-irradiation examination (PIE) included thermal-programmed desorption (TPD) and Vickers hardness tests as well as microstructure study by optical metallography. Be and Be-7Ti pellets maintained their integrity after irradiation. Microstructure of Be-7Ti contains two phases, mainly, TiBe 12 , and also small amount of Be. Under irradiation, gas bubbles were formed in Be samples as well as in Be-phase in Be-7Ti samples. These bubbles contain helium and tritium produced in Be under irradiation. TPD tests showed a much lower tritium retention in Be-7Ti than in Be for all four irradiation temperatures. Vickers hardness of TiBe 12 phase is much higher than that of Be-phase. According to the obtained data, Be-7Ti could be considered more preferred than Be as a neutron multiplier material in future fusion reactors due to the enhanced radiation damage resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]