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Neutron diffraction has been used to investigate the stress field in two different welds developed fornuclear applications, namely those obtained by tungsten inert gas welding of P91 martensitic steel (Cr 9, Mn6, Mo 1, C 0.1, and Fe bal wt %) and hybrid (laser beam and gas metal arc) welding of AISI316LN austeniticsteel (17.8 Cr, 12.3 Ni, 1.7 Mn, 2.4 Mo, 0.3 Si, and Fe bal wt %). The sizes of the investigated samples were100 × 50 × 12 mm for the P91 weld and 220 × 160 × 15 mm for the 316LN weld; unstrained references wereprepared for both welds. The neutron diffraction measurements have been carried out utilizing the E3 diffrac-tometer at the BER II reactor in Berlin, with a gauge volume of 2 × 2 × 2 mm3. Lines perpendicular to theweld direction were scanned at different depths inside the material and at different distances from the weldcenterline, including the heat affected zone and the weld centerline. Strain and stress values were determinedin the three principal directions. In the TIG P91 weld, the stresses are almost completely relieved after a postweld heat treatment for 2 h at 760°C. In the laser beam and gas metal arc 316LN weld not submitted to postweld heat treatment, nearly balancing longitudinal and transverse stress components as high as 300–350 MPaare found within a range of approximately 3 mm around the centerline of weld.

Fatty acid esters of hydroxy fatty acids (FAHFAs) are a newly discovered class of signaling lipids with anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic properties. However, the endogenous regulation of FAHFAs remains a pressing but unanswered question. Here, using MS-based FAHFA hydrolysis assays, LC-MS–based lipidomics analyses, and activity-based protein profiling, we found that androgen-induced gene 1 (AIG1) and androgen-dependent TFPI-regulating protein (ADTRP), two threonine hydrolases, control FAHFA levels in vivo in both genetic and pharmacologic mouse models. Tissues from mice lacking ADTRP (Adtrp-KO), or both AIG1 and ADTRP (DKO) had higher concentrations of FAHFAs particularly isomers with the ester bond at the 9(th) carbon due to decreased FAHFA hydrolysis activity. The levels of other lipid classes were unaltered indicating that AIG1 and ADTRP specifically hydrolyze FAHFAs. Complementing these genetic studies, we also identified a dual AIG1/ADTRP inhibitor, ABD-110207, which is active in vivo. Acute treatment of WT mice with ABD-110207 resulted in elevated FAHFA levels, further supporting the notion that AIG1 and ADTRP activity control endogenous FAHFA levels. However, loss of AIG1/ADTRP did not mimic the changes associated with pharmacologically administered FAHFAs on extent of upregulation of FAHFA levels, glucose tolerance, or insulin sensitivity in mice, indicating that therapeutic strategies should weigh more on FAHFA administration. Together, these findings identify AIG1 and ADTRP as the first endogenous FAHFA hydrolases identified and provide critical genetic and chemical tools for further characterization of these enzymes and endogenous FAHFAs to unravel their physiological functions and roles in health and disease.

Neutron diffraction measurements have been carried out for non-destructive characterization and numerical predictions validation of the residual stresses in a mock-up of the ITER-like divertor target plasma-facing component, made by hot radial pressing of 4 tungsten blocks to a CuCrZr cooling pipe via a soft copper interlayer. The neutron diffraction measurements were carried out, at room temperature, at FRM II reactor in Garching. Stress-relieved W and CuCrZr were examined as reference state before joining. The 3D stress tensor was determined in one of the two external W-blocks and CuCrZr pipe segments, scanning the mock-up from the outer surface of the W block towards the inner wall of the CuCrZr pipe with the interval of 0.4–0.5 mm. A residual stress distribution from tension to compression through the bonding line is detected, as expected from the requirement of force balance. Except at the interlayer, stresses well below 100 MPa are found, confirming the good fabrication quality of the investigated monoblock. These experimental results are comparable with the FEM-based numerical prediction, but at the interlayer and inside the pipe a sharper spatial resolution is needed for the neutron diffraction measurements to catch the hoop and axial stress gradient profile.

The Mediterranean flora is characterized by an abundance of aromatic plants. These plants make a significant contribution to the Mediterranean ecological communities both in terms of species numbers and biomass. In this area, Teucrium is a polymorphic and cosmopolitan genus of perennial plants, the largest of the Lamiaceae family, which comprises more than 300 species, of which almost 50 are native to Europe. The members of this genus are commonly known as germanders: they are bitter, astringent and antirheumatic herbs, utilized as antispasmodic agents for gastric ulcer and intestinal inflammation, as diuretic, antiseptic, antipyretic and antihelmintic agents. Moreover, they were also used in food preparation. Teucrium species are rich in essential oils and the presence of various biologically active monoterpenoid and sesquiterpenoid with several biological activities has been reported. This review summarizes the chemical features of the essential oils of Teucrium species reported in literature: it provides an overview on their compositions with particular reference to the more abundant components and to the reported biological activities. Teucrium polium, T. chamaedrys, T. flavum and T. capitatum are the most studied taxa concerning the volatile oil composition. Moreover, it is possible to distinguish different types of essential oils, characterized by the prevalence of a specific class of compounds: in particular, we recognized volatile oils rich in caryophyllene and caryophyllene derivatives, ?- and ?-pinene, germacrene B and D, ?-, ?-, ?-cadinene and/or cadinol, limonene, and bisabolol/bisabolene. This richness in chemodiversity confers to the essential oils from Teucrium species distinctive biological properties and applications, often confirming the traditional and folk uses of this genus. This review testifies the high great variability of Teucrium essential oils and shows that the possible factors responsible for the chemical polymorphism of essential oils and consequently for their bioactivity need further investigation.

A Ni–Cr anode, dip coated with Ce oxide for increasing the resistance to sulfur poisoning of high-temperature molten carbonate fuel cell, has been investigated by neutron diffraction. Crystallographic characterization of the phases present in this anode has been obtained by Rietveld refinement. In the substrate Ni–Cr is detected, with (Formula presented.) structure and weight volume fraction of 68.50(46) wt %. Additionally, due to oxidation during coating also NiO is present (space group (Formula presented.)), with weight volume fraction of 25.28(18)wt %. The thin protective layer consists of nanostructured CeO2 ((Formula presented.)), with an estimated massive volume fraction of 6.3(5) wt %. These results support the effectiveness of the adopted CeO2 deposition procedure and show the usefulness of neutron diffraction also for investigating thin protective layers.

Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) has been utilized for micro-structural investigation on laboratory heats of oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) 13.5 Cr wt % ferritic steel, with 0.3 wt% Y$_{2}$O$_{3}$ and with variable Ti and W contents. The results show that increasing the Ti content from 0.2 to 0.4 wt% a distribution of nano-clusters develops, tentatively identified as Y$_{2}$Ti$_{2}$O$_{7}$, with average radii as small as 6.5 Å and volume fractions increasing from 0.021 to 0.032. The measured SANS cross-sections show also the growth of much larger defects, possibly Cr oxides. Furthermore, the ratio of magnetic to nuclear SANS components shows that the defect composition varies both with their size and with the Ti and the W content. These results are in qualitative agreement with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations, showing a striking influence of Ti addition on particle size refinement. However, while TEM is limited in statistics and minimum observable size of the Ti-rich nano-clusters, the defect distributions obtained by these SANS measurements provide complementary information useful for morphological characterization of the micro-structure in the investigated material.

Orai1 is a transmembrane protein that forms homomeric, calcium-selective channels activated by stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) after depletion of intracellular calcium stores. In adult skeletal muscle, depletion of sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium activates STIM1/Orai1-dependent store-operated calcium entry. Here, we used constitutive and inducible muscle-specific Orai1-knockout (KO) mice to determine the acute and long-term developmental effects of Orai1 ablation on muscle structure and function. Skeletal muscles from constitutive, muscle-specific Orai-KO mice exhibited normal postnatal growth and fiber type differentiation. However, a significant reduction in fiber cross-sectional area occurred by 3 mo of age, with the most profound reduction observed in oxidative, fatigue-resistant fiber types. Soleus muscles of constitutive Orai-KO mice exhibited a reduction in unique type I fibers, concomitant with an increase in hybrid fibers expressing both type I and type IIA myosins. Additionally, ex vivo force measurements showed reduced maximal specific force and in vivo exercise assays revealed reduced endurance in constitutive muscle-specific Orai-KO mice. Using tamoxifen-inducible, muscle-specific Orai-KO mice, these functional deficits were found to be the result of the delayed fiber changes resulting from an early developmental loss of Orai1 and not the result of an acute loss of Orai1-dependent store-operated calcium entry.—Carrell, E. M., Coppola, A. R., McBride, H. J., Dirksen, R. T. Orai1 enhances muscle endurance by promoting fatigue-resistant type I fiber content but not through acute store-operated Ca2+ entry.

Monoacylglycerol lipase (MGLL) is the primary degradative enzyme for the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG). The first MGLL inhibitors have recently entered clinical development for the treatment of neurologic disorders. To support this clinical path, we report the pharmacological characterization of the highly potent and selective MGLL inhibitor ABD-1970 [1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropan-2-yl 4-(2-(8-oxa-3-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3-yl)-4-chlorobenzyl)piperazine-1-carboxylate]. We used ABD-1970 to confirm the role of MGLL in human systems and to define the relationship between MGLL target engagement, brain 2-AG concentrations, and efficacy. Because MGLL contributes to arachidonic acid metabolism in a subset of rodent tissues, we further used ABD-1970 to evaluate whether selective MGLL inhibition would affect prostanoid production in several human assays known to be sensitive to cyclooxygenase inhibitors. ABD-1970 robustly elevated brain 2-AG content and displayed antinociceptive and antipruritic activity in a battery of rodent models (ED50 values of 1-2 mg/kg). The antinociceptive effects of ABD-1970 were potentiated when combined with analgesic standards of care and occurred without overt cannabimimetic effects. ABD-1970 also blocked 2-AG hydrolysis in human brain tissue and elevated 2-AG content in human blood without affecting stimulated prostanoid production. These findings support the clinical development of MGLL inhibitors as a differentiated mechanism to treat pain and other neurologic disorders.

The micro-structural effects of different neutron irradiation temperatures and helium contents, for 16 dpa dose, have been investigated by means of small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) in B-alloyed ferritic/martensitic steel Eurofer97-1 (0.12 C, 9 Cr, 0.2 V, 1.08 W wt%, B concentrations up to 1000 ppm); due to B transmutations, fusion relevant He/dpa values are expected to be produced under neutron irradiation. SANS measurements have been carried out on a sample irradiated at 350 °C, with estimated helium content of 5600 appm, and compared to previous SANS results, obtained on two other irradiated samples of this same B-alloyed steel. These new measurements confirm that for such high helium contents the SANS cross-section increases in order of magnitude and the magnetic SANS component is strongly reduced, compared to lower helium content (400 appm). Such effects are attributed to increase in helium bubbles density and to the presence of micro-cavities, produced after dissolution of large B-carbides. The SANS data analysis procedure has been improved, also thanks to the additional information provided by the new measurements, and more accurate helium bubble size distributions have been obtained for all the investigated samples. For 5600 appm helium content, bubble volume fractions are found of 0.025 for the sample irradiated at 350 °C and of 0.041 for the previously investigated sample irradiated at 400 °C, significantly increasing with the irradiation temperature. These values are approximately one order of magnitude larger than the value of 0.003 previously found for the sample with 400 appm helium. The size distributions are compared with electron microscopy observations of these same samples. It appears that the occurrence of complex micro-structural changes in irradiated Eurofer97-1 steel should be taken in due account when considering its application under high He/dpa ratio values. Keywords: Helium effects, Neutron irradiation, Small angle neutron scattering, Electron microscopy

il lavoro descrive l'uso di microtecnologie, in particolare elettroforesi condotta su chip, pe rl'analisi quali-quantitativa di proteine di diversa estrazione biologica (prodotti carnei, cereali, microrganismi)

In this contribution, small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) studies of the micro-structural radiation damage in technical steels, developed for application in future fusion reactors, are presented. The effect of neutron irradiation at 250 °C–450 °C, up to dose levels of 16 dpa (displacement per atom), has been investigated in the European reference ferritic/martensitic steel Eurofer97 (0.12 C, 9 Cr, 0.2 V, 1.08 W wt%), both in its standard composition and mechanically alloyed with B (up to 1000 appm) to enhance the helium production, via transmutations, and reproduce fusion relevant helium/dpa ratios. The obtained SANS results suggest that in the irradiated standard Eurofer97 micro-voids distributions are present, with very small average radii (a few A) and volume fractions (around 0.01); such low values, close to the SANS resolution limit, are consistent with the good resistance of this steel to radiation damage, for low helium concentrations. In the irradiated B-alloyed Eurofer97, more complex changes are observed: the helium bubble distributions appear strongly dependent on the irradiation temperature and on the helium concentration; furthermore, micro-structural effects possibly related to modifications in the steel matrix are detected.

This contribution presents a comparative microstructural investigation, carried out by Small-Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS), of ferritic/martensitic steel Eurofer97 (0.12 C, 9 Cr, 0.2 V, 1.08 W wt%) neutron irradiated at two different neutron sources, the HFR-Petten (SPICE experiment) and the BOR60 reactor (ARBOR experiment). The investigated “SPICE” sample had been irradiated to 16 dpa at 250 °C, the investigated “ARBOR” one had been irradiated to 32 dpa at 330 °C. The SANS measurements were carried under a 1 T magnetic field to separate nuclear and magnetic SANS components; a reference, un-irradiated Eurofer sample was also measured to evaluate as accurately as possible the genuine effect of the irradiation on the microstructure. The detected increase in the respective SANS cross-sections of these two samples under irradiation is attributed primarily to the presence of micro-voids, for neutron contrast reasons; it is quite similar in the two samples, despite the higher irradiation dose and temperature of the “ARBOR” sample with respect to the “SPICE” one. This is tentatively correlated with the higher helium content produced under HFR irradiation, playing an important role to stabilize the micro-voids under irradiation. In fact, the size distributions obtained by transformation of the SANS data yield a micro-void volume fraction of 1.3% for the “SPICE” sample and of 0.6% for the “ARBOR” one.

Nowadays, packaging is one of the most diffused methods to control and preserve food against adverse environmental conditions from manufacturing and during their entire shelf life. In last decades, different functional and active packaging systems were developed, with meliorated characteristics and properties, as answer to consumer requirements. Aim of this chapter is to briefly introduce some of the most used and interesting carbohydrates which can be used in the formulation and production of more protective, antioxidant, ...

Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) is a powerful experimental tool to investigate the microstructural evolution under irradiation in steels for fission and future fusion reactor systems. We present recent SANS results concerning the modelling of helium bubble growth in F82H-mod. steel implanted with α-particles and the dose dependence of microstructural radiation damage in Eurofer-97 steel for fusion reactors irradiated at 250 °C. The discussion of these results is focussed on the quality of the metallurgical information obtained by such SANS measurements and consequently on their usefulness also for engineering and design purposes.

A finite difference procedure that can account for strain-rate effects, both shear and flexural deformations, permits variations in cross-section geometry and strength and loading over the length of a component is proposed to accurately and efficiently analyze the dynamic response of a simply supported structural member under blast loads. A section-based layered analysis model that accommodates varying strain rates across a member’s cross-section is used to derive sectional moment–curvature relationships. A formula is derived to estimate the distribution of strain rate over the depth of a cross-section along the length of the member, and the corresponding strain rate effects are incorporated into the section-based layered analysis model. The Timoshenko beam equations that include both shear deformations and rotational inertia are solved numerically using an explicit finite difference scheme. The accuracy of the proposed finite difference analysis model is part validated using results of blast testing of reinforced concrete slabs with combinations of explosive weights and standoff distances. The results are also compared with those obtained by conventional single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) analysis and finite element (FE) analysis using solid elements. The finite difference analysis procedure is both fast-running and accurate and most suitable for design office application, combining the speed of SDOF analysis and the detail and accuracy of FE analysis.

In a 38-year-old man combined heart and kidney transplantation was performed successfully in one operation. Both organs have functioned well postoperatively: the patient was discharged from hospital on the 19th postoperative day and has remained in functional class I (New York Heart Association) eight months later. Only two episodes of cardiac rejection have been observed during this period, responding to treatment, and there was no evidence of rejection of the kidney. Such combined heart-kidney transplantation from one donor seems to be a promising form of treatment for patients in end-stage myocardial and renal failure. The frequency of cardiac rejections my be lower after combined heart-kidney transplantation than after cardiac transplantation alone.

With advancing age, an increasing number of healthy individuals have laboratory signs of heightened coagulation enzyme activity. Such biochemical hypercoagulability might be the basis of either the increased thrombotic tendency occurring with age or a harmless manifestation of this process. Centenarians had striking signs of heightened coagulation enzyme activity, accompanied by signs of enhanced formation of fibrin and secondary hyperfibrinolysis. Plasma concentrations of fibrinogen and factor VIII were higher than in controls, whereas other coagulation factors were not elevated. It is of interest that centenarians have a significantly higher frequency than young individuals of the high risk 4G allele of the PAI-1-675 (4G/5G) polymorphism, mutant factor V (Arg506Gln) and prothrombin gene G20210A mutation. Von Willebrand factor (VWF), a well-known independent predictor of atherothrombotic disease, was increased in centenarians, independently of the blood group, confirming the previous results of a state of hypercoagulability. The finding that the VWF cleaving proteases levels are low when VWF levels are high in centenarians could be a corollary of the previous described paradox of successful aging, adding another marker of increased risk of atherothrombosis to the scenario. Alike, high prevalence of anti-phospholipids antibodies, not associated with an anti-phospholipid syndrome has been described in centenarians. In conclusion, the data show the oldest old do not escape the state of hypercoagulability associated with aging, but that this phenomenon is compatible with health and longevity. Hence, high plasma levels of the coagulation activation markers in older populations do not necessarily mirror a high risk of arterial or venous thrombosis.

The microstructural effect of low-dose neutron irradiation and subsequent high-temperature tempering in the reduced activation ferritic/martensitic steel F82H-mod. (7.73 Cr, 0.09 C, 0.08 Mn, 0.19 V, 2.06 W, 0.02 Ta, wt%, bal. Fe) has been studied using small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). The investigated samples were irradiated with thermal neutrons at 523 K, to dose levels of 2.4 displacements per atom then tempered for 2 h at 1043 K. The SANS measurements were carried out at the D22 instrument of the High Flux Reactor at the Institut Max von Laue–Paul Langevin, Grenoble, France. The differences observed in nuclear and magnetic small-angle neutron scattering cross-sections after subtraction of the reference sample from the irradiated one suggest that the irradiation and the subsequent post-irradiation tempering produce the growth of non-magnetic precipitates; the results are also compared with those obtained on other ferritic/martensitic steels, with different chemical composition, irradiated under the same conditions.

In patients with chronic urticaria (CU), plasma shows signs of thrombin generation and autologous plasma skin tests score positive in as many as 95% of cases.To evaluate the initiators of blood coagulation that lead to thrombin generation and fibrinolysis in CU.Activated factor VII, activated factor XII, fragment F(1+2), and D-dimer plasma levels were measured in 37 patients with CU and 37 controls. Skin specimens from 10 patients with CU and 10 controls were tested for tissue factor immunohistochemically.Mean F(1+2) levels were higher in patients than controls (2.54 [SD 2.57] nmol/L vs 0.87 [0.26] nmol/L; P.001); disease activity was moderate or severe in 9 of 11 (82%) and 9 of 26 (35%) patients showing high or normal F(1+2) levels, respectively (P.025). Mean D-dimer plasma levels were higher in patients than controls (329 [188] ng/mL vs 236 [81] ng/mL; P.01); disease activity was moderate or severe in 6 of 8 (75%) and 11 of 29 (38%) showing elevated or normal plasma D-dimer levels (P = NS). Factor VIIa levels were higher in patients than controls (2.86 ng/mL [0.66] vs 1.97 ng/mL [0.65]; P.001). Activated factor VII and F(1+2) levels were correlated (r = 0.529; P = .008). Tissue factor reactivity was observed only in CU skin specimens.The extrinsic pathway of clotting cascade is activated in CU. Disease severity is associated with the activation of the coagulation cascade.The involvement of the coagulation pathway in CU opens new perspectives for a better understanding of the pathogenesis and, possibly, for the treatment of this disease.

Neutron diffraction measurements have been carried out to develop a non-destructive experimental tool for characterizing the crystallographic structure and the internal stress field in W foil laminates for structural divertor applications in future fusion reactors. The model sample selected for this study had been prepared by brazing, at 1085 °C, 13 W foils with 12 Cu foils. A complete strain distribution measurement through the brazed multilayered specimen and determination of the corresponding stresses has been obtained, assuming zero stress in the through-thickness direction. The average stress determined from the technique across the specimen (over both 'phases' of W and Cu) is close to zero at -17 ± 32 MPa, in accordance with the expectations. © 2015 The Authors.

Worldwide programs aimed at developing materials for future fusion plants are presently concentrating on reduced activation ferritic/martensitic (RAFM) steels. In Europe, a Fusion Long Term Programme is being carried out under the coordination of European Fusion Development Agreement (EFDA) Close Support Unit (Garching, Germany); in the framework of this programme, extensive research is currently in progress for the development and full qualification of the European reference 9Cr RAFM steel, designated EUROFER. This paper focuses on the work being performed within the EFDA Technology Workprogram TTMS-001 task "Irradiation Perfonnance of EUROFER", aimed at defining the post-irradiation mechanical and microstructural characteristics of the material, through irradiations, post-irradiation examinations (PlEs) and theoretical studies. An overview of the progress made will be given, as well as an anticipation of future research activities. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

This contribution presents the results of an experimental study on high temperature stress evolution in brazed Glidcop/W model structures. The investigated sample (23 mm x 23 mm x 8 mm in volume) had been obtained by brazing a W alloy and a Glidcop (Cu alloy) platelet at 650 degrees C using TiCuAg alloy as a filler. Neutron diffraction was utilized to determine the strains, then the stresses in the bulk of the sample, between room temperature and 300 degrees C; unstrained Glidcop and W reference samples were measured as well in the same temperature range. The measurements were carried out at the D1A diffractorneter of the High Flux Reactor at the Institut Laue Langevin, Grenoble. It is found that the residual stresses present at room temperature in the as-brazed sample vanish almost completely at 300 degrees C that provides relevant engineering information such as the zero strain temperature.

This contribution presents the results of small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) measurements carried out to investigate the microstructure of Eurofer97 neutron irradiated with 2.7 dpa, at 60 °C and 300 °C. For comparison, samples of a laboratory heat of this same steel, irradiated under the same conditions, have also been investigated. The SANS measurements have been carried out at the High Flux Reactor of the ILL-Grenoble. SANS data analysis, based on the comparison of nuclear and magnetic scattering, shows that the microstructural defects produced under irradiation are mostly non-magnetic ones (He bubbles, microvoids). Their distribution strongly varies with the irradiation conditions, namely with increasing irradiation temperature. A consistent increase is observed both in the average size (up to approximately 100 A) as well as in the volume fraction.

The artisanal fishery still represents a very important sector in the whole Mediterranean region but is subject to important changes related to the increase of fishing effort and to the growing development of new activities along the coast. The Italian area of Cilento (southern Tyrrhenian Sea) has the same characteristics as many other Mediterranean coastal zones in which activities, such as fishing, aquaculture and tourism are carried out. It represents a good example of what is happening in the western and central Mediterranean Sea. Data collection and analysis used are described in detail allowing the application of the same methodology in areas having the same characteristics. In Cilento many changes have occurred during the last decades, in particular a decrease of fishing yield followed by an increase of fishing effort, a growing loss of traditional fishing methods and conflicts for fishing grounds. The artisanal fishery seems to show a positive feedback to these changes, finding alternative sources of income in tourism-related activities and adjusting itself to the fluctuation and availability of resources.

The growth of He-bubbles after low temperature He-implantation and subsequent high temperature tempering in F82H-mod steel has been studied by using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). The results obtained by both techniques show that after implantation the bubbles are homogeneously distributed around an average size of 11 A, while after subsequent tempering He-bubbles one order of magnitude larger grow in size and volume fraction. Additionally, the SANS data show a consistent population of bubbles smaller than 10 A, which is discussed with reference to the possible migration and coalescence mechanisms during high temperature tempering.

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) were used to characterize the microstructure of two variants of oxide-dispersion strengthened (ODS) Eurofer-97 steel (9% CrWVTa), that is being developed for future fusion reactors. More specifically the Y2O3 particle size distributions obtained with different Y2O3 contents have been characterized, since the mechanical properties are strongly correlated with such features. The SANS measurements have been carried out by the D22 instrument at the High Flux Reactor of the Institut Laue-Langevin, Grenoble. There is a good agreement between TEM histograms and SANS distributions of the Y2O3 particles. Furthermore, relevant and unique information is provided by the SANS measurements that reveals particles of size smaller than 1 nm approximately.