New criteria for the molecular identification of cereal grains associated with archaeological artefacts.

The domestication and transmission of cereals is one of the most fundamental components of early farming, but direct evidence of their use in early culinary practices and economies has remained frustratingly elusive. Using analysis of a well-preserved Early Bronze Age wooden container from Switzerland, we propose novel criteria for the identification of cereal residues. Using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS), we identified compounds typically associated with plant products, including a series of phenolic lipids (alkylresorcinols) found only at appreciable concentration in wheat and rye bran. The value of these lipids as cereal grain biomarkers were independently corroborated by the presence of macrobotanical remains embedded in the deposit, and wheat and rye endosperm peptides extracted from residue. These findings demonstrate the utility of a lipid-based biomarker for wheat and rye bran and offer a methodological template for future investigations of wider range of archaeological contexts. Alkylresorcinols provide a new tool for residue analysis which can help explore the spread and exploitation of cereal grains, a fundamental component of the advent and spread of farming

Strahler, Hirten, Alpinisten. Gletscherfunde in der Schweiz.

Spuren des Menschen im Hochgebirge reichen 10'000 Jahre zurück. Über Pässe und Glet-scher bewegten sich die Menschen in den Alpen, ihre Motive waren Jagd, Alpwirtschaft, Rohmaterialgewinnung und Handel. In der Schweiz belegen spektakuläre archäologische Funde aus dem Eis eine jahrtausendealte transalpine Mobilität

Radiocarbon Dating of Bones at the LARA Laboratory in Bern, Switzerland

The Laboratory for the Analysis of Radiocarbon with AMS (LARA) was established at the University of Bern in 2013. Since then, the quality of sample preparation and radiocarbon measurement procedures have been validated for different materials such as plant remains, macrofossils, bulk sediment, charcoals, and wood. This article presents the optimization of sample pretreatment of bones based on protocols described in the literature. The extraction of collagen was performed with an acid-base-acid treatment, gelatinization, coarse filtration, lyophilization, and graphitization. Dating results were validated as satisfactory for the Holocene by Investigation of 36 individual samples previously dated by other 14C laboratories including VIRI/SIRI materials and from well-known archaeological contexts. An additional blank contribution for bone treatment was determined by comparison with the preparation of other sample materials. The cases of two outliers from the Holocene were studied in detail

Uncertainty and probability in neonatal end-of-life decision-making: analysing real-time conversations between healthcare professionals and families of critically ill newborns

Abstract Background A significant number of critically ill neonates face potentially adverse prognoses and outcomes, with some of them fulfilling the criteria for perinatal palliative care. When counselling parents about the critical health condition of their child, neonatal healthcare professionals require extensive skills and competencies in palliative care and communication. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the communication patterns and contents between neonatal healthcare professionals and parents of neonates with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions regarding options such as life-sustaining treatment and palliative care in the decision-making process. Methods A qualitative approach to analysing audio-recorded conversations between neonatal team and parents. Eight critically ill neonates and a total of 16 conversations from two Swiss level III neonatal intensive care units were included. Results Three main themes were identified: the weight of uncertainty in diagnosis and prognosis, the decision-making process, and palliative care. Uncertainty was observed to impede the discussion about all options of care, including palliative care. Regarding decision-making, neonatologists oftentimes conveyed to parents that this was a shared endeavour. However, parental preferences were not ascertained in the conversations analysed. In most cases, healthcare professionals were leading the discussion and parents expressed their opinion reactively to the information or options received. Only few couples proactively participated in decision-making. The continuation of therapy was often the preferred course of action of the healthcare team and the option of palliative care was not mentioned. However, once the option for palliative care was raised, the parents’ wishes and needs regarding the end-of-life care of their child were obtained, respected, and implemented by the team. Conclusion Although shared decision-making was a familiar concept in Swiss neonatal intensive care units, parental involvement in the decision-making process illustrated a somewhat different and complex picture. Strict adherence to the concept of certainty might impede the process of decision-making, thereby not discussing palliation and missing opportunities to include parental values and preferences