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In this study, we characterized the microstructure evolution and hardness of Inconel X-750 samples that were irradiated in-reactor at several different dose rates and temperatures and at doses up to 84 dpa. The irradiation induced lattice defects, the stability of γ' precipitates, and the formation of helium bubbles were studied. Detailed statistics regarding the size and density of those features were obtained. The combined effects from irradiation dose, dose rate, and temperature on the disordering and dissolution of precipitates and the formation of bubbles were discussed. The isolated contributions of those microstructural features to the total material strength were calculated based on the Dispersed Barrier Hardening (DBH) model. The spatial distribution of He bubbles, especially the visible large ones (>2 nm), were also found to either correlate or anti-correlate with the spatial distribution of solute elements, e.g., Ti, Fe, and Cr, at doses higher than 75 dpa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybridisation between wild and domestic taxa raises complex questions for conservation. Genetic advances offer new methods for hybrid identification, yet social and cultural factors can influence study design, and the interpretation, application, and communication of results. A relevant illustration is hybridisation between domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) and wild canids, such as grey wolves (C. lupus). For regional European monitoring programs in areas with expanding wolf populations, priorities include shared genetic markers and inclusion of all relevant reference populations to ensure dispersing wolves are identified as such and not classified as wolf-dog hybrids, which may cause harmful management decisions. Beyond technical developments, hybrid research and conservation management can benefit from improved integration of legal and policy perspectives, recognition of phenotypic traits as broadly unreliable for identification, and attention to the drivers of, and responses to, evolution in human-dominated landscapes. Additionally, the proliferation of unsubstantiated reports about hybrids in popular and social media shows that communication based on verified findings of hybridisation is essential. Hybridisation requires more constructive discussion on how to balance potentially competing conservation objectives, and the integration of multidisciplinary perspectives. These encompass the welfare of individual animals and preservation of historical predator-prey relationships. Conservation measures centred on preserving the ecological function of wild canids likely offer the most sustainable prospects but require improved understanding of the extent to which their behavioural ecology might differ from that of hybrids. Accurate genetic identification is required to fill this critical knowledge gap, advance public discourse, and initiate relevant conservation actions. • Wolf x dog and other anthropogenic hybridisation is a global conservation concern. • New genetic tools permit hybrid detection, and standardised methods are needed. • Multidisciplinary perspectives and case-by-case appraisals can improve management. • Better integration of scientific, legal, social, and ethical information is required. • A focus on preserving wolf ecosystem function can promote long-term conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: As part of the increased need for transparency and disclosure of information in health care, the Italian Minister of Health has commissioned the Superior Institute of Health to study health outcomes for several procedures, among which is solid organ transplants. We herein report the results of a quality evaluation of solid organ transplants and on the relationship between hospital volume of activity and outcomes, using the data routinely collected by the National Transplant Center during the period 2000 to 2002. Methods: We collected and analyzed all the information on solid organ transplants between 2000 and 2002, along with clinical information before and after transplant. Multivariate survival analysis was performed to adjust the follow-up data for the complexity of the cases. Correlation graphs are presented that assess the association between the number of transplants and the adjusted 1-year survival of both the organ and the patient. Results: One-year survival was 92.4% for kidney, 77.8% for liver, and 83.9% for heart. Patient survival was 97.0%, 84.1%, and 83.9%, respectively. A negative correlation was observed between the number of transplants performed by each center and 1-year survival of the organ. Conclusions: Our study indicated that survival after organ transplants in Italy is good and that hospital quality, indirectly measured through survival, overlaps that observed in other Western countries. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]