Patients with carotid occlusive disease express altered hemodynamics in the post-occlusive vasculature and lesions commonly attributed to cerebral small vessel disease (SVD). We addressed the... Show morePatients with carotid occlusive disease express altered hemodynamics in the post-occlusive vasculature and lesions commonly attributed to cerebral small vessel disease (SVD). We addressed the question if cerebral perforating artery flow measures, using a novel 7T MRI technique, are altered and related to SVD lesion burden in patients with carotid occlusive disease. 21 patients were included with a uni- (18) or bilateral (3) carotid occlusion (64±7 years) and 19 controls (65 ±10 years). Mean flow velocity and pulsatility in the perforating arteries in the semi-oval center (CSO) and basal ganglia (BG), measured with a 2D phase contrast 7T MRI sequence, were compared between patients and controls, and between hemispheres in patients with unilateral carotid occlusive disease. In patients, relations were assessed between perforating artery flow measures and SVD burden score and white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volume. CSO perforating artery flow velocity was lower in patients than controls, albeit non-significant (mean difference [95% confidence interval] 0.08 cm/s [0.00–0.16]; p = 0.053), but pulsatility was similar (0.07 [-0.04–0.18]; p = 0.23). BG flow velocity and pulsatility did not differ between patients and controls (velocity = 0.28 cm/s [-0.32–0.88]; p = 0.34; pulsatility = 0.00 [-0.10–0.11]; p = 0.97). Patients with unilateral carotid occlusive disease showed no significant interhemispheric flow differences. Though non-significant, within patients lower CSO (p = 0.06) and BG (p = 0.11) flow velocity related to larger WMH volume. Our findings suggest that carotid occlusive disease may be associated with abnormal cerebral perforating artery flow and that this relates to SVD lesion burden in these patients, although our observations need corroboration in larger study populations. Show less
“The Pots and Potters of Assyria” is a comprehensive discussion of all evidence relating to pottery production from the Late Bronze Age site of Tell Sabi Abyad, Syria. Technological, morphological,... Show more“The Pots and Potters of Assyria” is a comprehensive discussion of all evidence relating to pottery production from the Late Bronze Age site of Tell Sabi Abyad, Syria. Technological, morphological, stylistic and archaeological data are integrated into the understanding of pottery production and use. The pottery itself and its chronological sequence, the shaping and firing techniques, raw materials, wasters and unfired pottery are presented. In addition, workshops and their layout, tools, as well as pottery kilns and their construction are discussed. Together with information on standardization, output and demand, as well as information from contemporary texts, these sources are used to reconstruct the organization of pottery production at the site. A chapter on vessel function and use including a list of Middle Assyrian vessel names concludes the study. Introductory chapters discuss field methodology, the historical background and stratigraphical information. Seven appendices present the database used for this study, the shape typology, a detailed study of the pottery kilns, the results of archaeometric research including thin-section analyses, potters’ marks, and cuneiform texts from Sabi Abyad related to pottery. The thesis is lavishly illustrated, including an extensive catalogue, detailed illustrations of workshops, tools, shaping techniques, kilns, thin-section slides, and vessels in iconography Show less
