Quantitative analysis of airway obstruction in lymphangioleiomyomatosis

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare, cystic lung disease with progressive pulmonary function loss caused by progressively proliferating LAM cells. The degree of airway obstruction has not been well investigated within the pathogenesis of LAM. Using a combination of ex vivo computed tomography (CT), microCT and histology, the site and nature of airway obstruction in LAM explant lungs was compared with matched control lungs (n=5 each). The total number of airways per generation, total airway counts, terminal bronchioles number and surface density were compared in LAM versus control. Ex vivo CT analysis demonstrated a reduced number of airways from generation 7 on (p<0.0001) in LAM compar…

L'extraordinaire épée à pommeau en coupelle du Bronze final de Wessem (prov. de Limbourg hollandais, Pays-Bas)

Transmission patterns in the production of Bronze Age solid- hilted swords

Bronze Age swords with a bronze hilt were a highly specialised production. Casting hilts and blades and fixing them to each other require lots of precision and very specific skills. We hardly know anything about the production organisation as moulds are extremely rare, preventing us from locating workshops. However, studying swords themselves using X-ray imaging techniques allows us to reconstruct a part of the chaîne opératoire and gain insight into some aspects of the production processes. We identify three periods in the production of solid-hilted swords at the European scale:1. Experimental phase (1800-1450 BC): small-scaled productions by multiple workshops experimenting various ways o…