Geoarchaeological and palaeontological research in the Maasvlakte 2 sand extraction zone and on the artificially created Maasvlakte 2 beach: a synthesis

Zooarchaeolog

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Introduction In November 2011 archaeologists of City of Rotterdam Archaeological Service (BOOR) conducted underwater research in the Yangtze harbour, Rotterdam Maasvlakte, The Netherlands. The research was carried out by order of Port of Rotterdam Authority and supervised by the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands. The results of geological, botanical, zoological and archaeological analyses of the retrieved material generated new information on the occupation of a relatively high river dune by prehistoric hunter-gatherers, and on the development history of the surrounding landscape ca. 9,000 years ago. Methods Rather than employing divers the underwater investigations were carried out on board a vessel using a wire-operated, horizontal closing grab. Three small trenches (total area ca. 375m²) were excavated in layers in a fairly controlled fashion. Underwater excavations cannot achieve the same level of precision as is possible on land, but the many soil core samples taken in the project’s preliminary phase allowed detailed descriptions of the geomorphological stratigraphy. The excavation resulted in 316 bulk bags of soil. All soil was sieved on land, using sieves with mesh sizes of 10 and 2mm, after which archaeologists and volunteers carefully sorted the residues, documenting a total of ca. 46,000 finds. Results Plenty of Mesolithic occupation remains were retrieved at all three grab locations, from depths ranging between 17 to 21m below modern MSL. The finds span the age range from ca. 8400 to 6500BC, when the site transformed from dryland (an inland dune) to wetland (drowned delta subsurface). At the foot of the inland dune, the depositional conditions allowed for excellent preservation of bone, charcoal and plant material as well as stone artefacts. The site provides an unusually rich and detailed body of evidence on environmental conditions and the Middle Mesolithic palaeo-economy. The landscape ecotones around the site yielded an abundance of food while gradually being transformed, due to rising sea levels, from a valley containing the rivers Rhine and Meuse into the mouth area of those rivers. At 6500 BC, the site was finally transgressed: drowned in an estuary and swallowed up by the sea. Conclusion The Rotterdam Yangtze Harbour research project demonstrates the preservation of Mesolithic sites along the river Rhine, at depths in nowadays coastal and offshore areas. Furthermore, it demonstrates the feasibility of archaeological investigation of such submerged sites, even at depths of 18 to 20 m beneath sea, lake and harbour floors. Never before had such a submerged site been excavated at such a great depth. The scientific report (in English) will appear in the autumn of 2014, providing a full description of all finds as well as their landscape context

A multimodal molecular imaging approach targeting urokinase plasminogen activator receptor for the diagnosis, resection and surveillance of urothelial cell carcinoma

With a 5-year recurrence rate of 30-78%, urothelial cell carcinoma (UCC) rates amongst the highest of all solid malignancies. Consequently, after transurethral resection, patients are subjugated to life-long endoscopic surveillance. A multimodal near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence-based imaging strategy can improve diagnosis, resection and surveillance, hence increasing quality of life.Methods: Expression of urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) and epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) are determined on paraffin-embedded human UCC using immunohistochemistry and on UCC cell lines by flow cytometry. MNPR-101, a humanised monoclonal antibody targeting uPAR is conjugated to IRDye800CW and binding is validated in vitro using surface plasmon resonance and cell-based binding assays. In vivo NIR fluorescence and photoacoustic three-dimensional (3D) imaging are performed with subcutaneously growing human UM-UC-31uc2 cells in BALB/c-nude mice. The translational potential is confirmed in a metastasising UM-UC-31uc2 orthotopic mouse model. InfliximabIRDye800CW and rituximab-IRDye800CW are used as controls.Results: UCCs show prominent uPAR expression at the tumour-stroma interface and EpCAM on epithelial cells. uPAR and EpCAM are expressed by 6/7 and 4/7 UCC cell lines, respectively. In vitro, MNPR-101-IRDye800CW has a picomolar affinity for domain 2-3 of uPAR. In vivo fluorescence imaging with MNPR-101-IRDye800CW, specifically delineates both subcutaneous and orthotopic tumours with tumour-to-background ratios reaching as high as 6.8, differing significantly from controls (p < 0.0001). Photoacoustic 3D in depth imaging confirms the homogenous distribution of MNPR-101-IRDye800CW through the tumour.Conclusions: MNPR-101-IRDye800CW is suitable for multimodal imaging of UCC, awaiting clinical translation. (C) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.Surgical oncolog

An Evaluation of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Perceived Social Distancing Policies in Relation to Planning, Selecting, and Preparing Healthy Meals: An Observational Study in 38 Countries Worldwide

Objectives: To examine changes in planning, selecting, and preparing healthy foods in relation to personal factors (time, money, stress) and social distancing policies during the COVID-19 crisis. Methods: Using cross-sectional online surveys collected in 38 countries worldwide in April-June 2020 (N = 37,207, Mage 36.7 SD 14.8, 77% women), we compared changes in food literacy behaviors to changes in personal factors and social distancing policies, using hierarchical multiple regression analyses controlling for sociodemographic variables. Results: Increases in planning (4.7 SD 1.3, 4.9 SD 1.3), selecting (3.6 SD 1.7, 3.7 SD 1.7), and preparing (4.6 SD 1.2, 4.7 SD 1.3) healthy foods were found for women and men, and positively related to perceived time availability and stay-at-home policies. Psychological distress was a barrier for women, and an enabler for men. Financial stress was a barrier and enabler depending on various sociodemographic variables (all p < 0.01). Conclusion: Stay-at-home policies and feelings of having more time during COVID-19 seem to have improved food literacy. Stress and other social distancing policies relate to food literacy in more complex ways, highlighting the necessity of a health equity lens. Copyright 2021 De Backer, Teunissen, Cuykx, Decorte, Pabian, Gerritsen, Matthys, Al Sabbah, Van Royen and the Corona Cooking Survey Study Group.This research was funded by the Research Foundation Flanders (G047518N) and Flanders Innovation and Entrepreneurship (HBC.2018.0397). These funding sources had no role in the design of the study, the analysis and interpretation of the data or the writing of, nor the decision to publish the manuscript.Scopu

Een inventariserend archeologisch onderzoek op het terrein Smokkelhoek, gemeente Kapelle

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Archeologisch vooronderzoek in Breda-Wagenmakerspark

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Wijk bij Duurstede, Jolice : AAO

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Aanvullend archeologisch onderzoek op de locatie hoek Touwlaan/Kasteellaan

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Aanvullend archeologisch onderzoek in de gemeente Breda, Heilaar-Noord

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Aanvullend Archeologisch Onderzoek in het trace van de HSL vindplaats 15, Kleine Lindt-Noord

In het kader van de aanleg van de Hogesnelheidslijn heeft een Aanvullend Archeologisch Onderzoek op deze locatie plaatsgevonden. Er zijn enkele losse vondsten gedaan. Van een vondstlaag of vondststrooiing was geen sprake. In de opgravingsputten van deze vindplaats zijn geen antropogene grondsporen gevonden. Er kan derhalve geconcludeerd worden dat hier geen sprake is van een archeologische vindplaats