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The fate of organic matter in a papyrus (Cyperus papyrus L.) dominated tropical wetland ecosystem in Nyanza Gulf (Lake Victoria, Kenya) inferred from delta13C and delta15N analysis.

Papyrus swamps usually form at the interface between river inlet and open lake. From one such wetland ecosystem (the Kibos system located in the Nyanza Gulf, Lake Victoria, Kenya), three sediment cores were recovered using piston corer in order to determine the fate of organic matter derived from papyrus and possible nutrient pathways in this system. The coring represented a transect from the river through the floating papyrus mat to the lake. Two short cores were retrieved from the lake and river. One long core (2 m) was recovered on a floating papyrus mat. The C:N ratio showed similar trends down core from the three locations. This may possibly be due to diagenic processes such as autolysis, dissolution and microbial mineralisation occurring in the sediments. Statistical analysis through one-way ANOVA revealed no significant differences in the C:N ratios between stations. Results of the stable carbon isotope ratios revealed that the delta(13)C of the river and lake samples were persistently more negative than -20 per thousand over the whole profile indicating possible contribution from terrestrial derived carbon. Regarding the floating mat core, the delta(13)C values ranged from -18.99 per thousand on the top of the floating mat but gradually increased to -16.82 per thousand towards the bottom of the core indicating possible contribution of carbon from Cyperus papyrus that has a delta(13)C value of -13.45+/-0.62 per thousand. Statistical analysis through one-way ANOVA revealed significant differences in the delta(13)C values between stations. The stable nitrogen isotope values were highly positive both in the river and in the lake station (delta(15)N > 10 per thousand), indicating possible contamination from sewage wastes. Values in the swamp were less positive suggesting first, the formation of ammonium depleted in (15)N from intense organic matter mineralisation, secondly indicating the delta(15)N signal of papyrus and, finally that nitrogen fixation processes were possibly occurring in the swamp. Statistical analysis through one-way ANOVA revealed significant differences in the delta(15)N values between stations. The stable isotope findings suggested that carbon derived from papyrus is retained in the swamp. Impoverished oxygen concentration in the swamp suggests high mineralisation of organic matter in the swamp indicating that the retained papyrus-derived carbon is largely respired. We conclude that further studies should be undertaken to determine the respiration rates in the wetland.

Carbon Isotopes↗

Investigations on rhizoplane Actinobacteria communities of papyrus (Cyperus papyrus) from an Egyptian wetland.

Wetlands have important global ecological functions, which include carbon storage and water interception. Wetland contributes to the maintenance of regional and global biodiversity. Though many important wetland ecological functions are based on microbial metabolism, we have scanty knowledge on microbial diversity in wetlands. Plant rhizoplane habitats are considered to harbor highly diverse bacterial communities. Most of the floating mats on river Nile are dominated by papyrus (Cyperus papyrus). Papyrus root samples were collected from a floating mat at the "Gold Island" inside the Nile River at Cairo, Egypt in February 1996 and May 1997 in order to investigate the rhizoplane actinobacteria communities. The root-tip regions were cut off, repeatedly washed, macerated and plated. Using the plate-count technique with three actinobacteria media, an average of 2.1 x 10(4) CFUg-1 root actinobacteria were obtained. All actinobacteria colonies were isolated, purified and investigated by classical and molecular methods. In the papyrus rhizoplane Streptomyces anulatus, Micromonospora sp., Rhodococcus luteus, Verrucosispora gifhornensis and Aureobacterium liquefaciens dominated, moreover Actinoplanes utahensis, and Str. diastaticus were also present. The physiological traits of the members of dominant groups revealed that these bacteria might be active in the rhizoplane and can be present there is their vegetative forms.

Actinobacteria↗

A comparative study of Cyperus papyrus and Miscanthidium violaceum-based constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment in a tropical climate.

The treatment efficiencies of constructed wetlands containing Cyperus papyrus L. (papyrus) and Miscanthidium violaceum (K. Schum.) Robyns (synonymous with Miscanthus violaceum (K. Schum) Pilg.) were investigated in a tropical climate (Kampala, Uganda). Papyrus showed higher ammonium-nitrogen and total reactive phosphorus (TRP) removal (75.3% and 83.2%) than Miscanthidium (61.5% and 48.4%) and unplanted controls (27.9% ammonium-nitrogen). No TRP removal was detected in control effluent. Nutrients (N and P) were significantly higher (p<0.015) in papyrus than Miscanthidium plant tissues. Plant uptake and storage was the major factor responsible for N and P removal in treatment line 2 (papyrus) where it contributed 69.5% N and 88.8% P of the total N and P removed. It however accounted for only 15.8% N and 30.7% P of the total N and P removed by treatment line 3 (Miscanthidium violaceum). In addition, papyrus exhibited a significantly larger (p=0.000) number of adventitious roots than Miscanthidium. Nitrifying bacteria attached to papyrus (2.15 x 10(6)+/-1.53 x 10(5) MPN/g DW) and Miscanthidium roots (1.30 x 10(4)+/-8.83 x 10(2) MPN/g DW) and the corresponding nitrification activities were consistent with this finding. Epiphytic nitrifiers appeared more important for total nitrification than those in peat or suspended in water. Papyrus root structures provided more microbial attachment sites, sufficient wastewater residence time, trapping and settlement of suspended particles, surface area for pollutant adsorption, uptake, assimilation in plant tissues and oxygen for organic and inorganic matter oxidation in the rhizosphere, accounting for its high treatment efficiency.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗

The Edwin Smith Papyrus: the birth of analytical thinking in medicine and otolaryngology.

The Edwin Smith Papyrus, discovered in 1862 outside of Luxor, Egypt, is the oldest known surgical text in the history of civilization. The surviving scroll, a copy of an earlier text from around 3,000 B.C., gives us remarkable insight into the medical practice of ancient Egyptians in the Nile River bed during the dawn of civilization. The Papyrus is divided into 48 cases, most of which describe traumatic injuries. The text instructs the physician to examine the patient and look for revealing physical signs that may indicate the outcome of the injury. Although in modern medicine we take for granted that the use of physical examination and rational thinking lead to an accurate conclusion, 5,000 years ago, this was extraordinary. The Edwin Smith Papyrus cast aside the prevailing magic and mysticism of that time in favor of logic and deductive reasoning. As Egyptian civilization declined during the next millennium, the teachings of the Papyrus would be lost. It would not be until 300 B.C. when Hippocrates and his disciples in ancient Greece would once again revive logic in medical thinking and teaching. It is believed that the ancient Greeks had knowledge of the contents of the Edwin Smith Papyrus and its teachings and used them as the basis for their writings. As Europe entered the Dark Ages, so did medicine yet again, reverting to spells and prayers instead of judgment and reason. Although Hippocrates teachings were recognized by some scholars during the Middle Ages, they did not make up the basis for mainstream medical knowledge. With the dawn of the Renaissance, medicine would finally purge itself of its past supernatural foundation. Hippocratic teachings were used to form the basis of modern medicine, and medical pioneers in the 17 century studied the ancient Greek texts as the origin for their ideas. Many of the concepts physicians and patients today take as common knowledge originated in the Edwin Smith Papyrus. The authors attempt to uncover some of these fundamental ideas and trace them through time until their incorporation in our modern medical knowledge base. It is the rational, logical, and advanced thinking exhibited in the Edwin Smith Papyrus that mandates its respect from modern otolaryngologists and all physicians alike.

Egypt, Ancient↗

[Ebers Papyrus. The book of medical knowledge of the 16th century B.C. Egyptians].

In 2nd century B.C. Clemens Alexanrinus was sure, that the Egyptians collected all their knowledge in 42 secret books. of which last six contained medical knowledge. Despite this and records of other ancient authors, for long time the opinion about the history of medicine was not changed. In traditional view the role of Hippocrates and the Greeks was emphasized. In 19th century egyptologist began finding Egyptian papyri, whose contents concerned medical matters. The first medical papyrus was published by Georg Ebers in 1875. The Ebers Papyrus is a scroll 20,23 meters in length and contains 108 columns of text. I is dated at the reign of Amenophis I (1536 B.C.). This papyrus was published and translated by different researches (the most valuable is German edition Grundriss de Medizin de alten ägypter, and based on this Paul Ghalioungui edition). In the opinion of Grundriss, chaotic arrangement of medical advices in papyrus suggest different originals from which they drew. The text of The Ebers Papyrus is ordered in series of prescriptions, which are grouped according to different diseases, illnesses and injuries. ALmost all of those groups have introduction by the formula: "Here begins.." used on 36 occasions. They are, however, often varied and disorganised. The owner of this papyrus was probably a physician - the text mentions about "physician secrets". Herodotus writes, that Egyptian physicians were specialized, which seems to be confirmed by The Ebers Papyrus.

Egypt↗

[Neurology in the medical papyruses of the pharaohs].

The civilization of Ancient Egypt included a long period of almost three millenniums, and is the most interesting example of the so-called pretechnical archaic cultures. Papyrus scrolls are the main source of information about medical activities. There are fourteen medical papyrus scrolls, in varying states of conservation, mostly corresponding to the Middle Empire, but containing references to the Ancient Empire (the period of the pyramids). These are practical treaties with little explanation of the underlying pathology (a primitive theory of the 'flow' of humors, involving the flowing of different malignant entities) within a system of magic and religion. The empirical observations referring to diseases or dysfunctions of the nervous system, although few, seem to be worth reviewing. Remedies for migraine ('the disorder affecting half the head') take up a long chapter of the only complete and best preserved Ebers papyrus. Dementia (deterioration with age), convulsions and tetany are briefly mentioned in several papyrus scrolls. With the detailed description of the clinical findings of cranial and vertebral trauma, and the orderly assessment of severity presented in Edwin Smith's papyrus the neurology of pharaonic Egypt attained its greatest importance.

Brain Injuries↗

The effect of wastewater discharge on biomass production and nutrient content of Cyperus papyrus and Miscanthidium violaceum in the Nakivubo wetland, Kampala, Uganda.

The nutrient content of representative plant parts and biomass production in the Nakivubo wetland, correlation of these with the wastewater flow patterns and determination of nutrient uptake, storage and biomass production of Cyperus papyrus (papyrus) and Miscanthidium violaceum was studied. On average papyrus vegetation under the influence of wastewater had higher nutrient content in the above ground biomass (1.6% N and 0.23% P on dry weight basis) than those not affected (0.98% N and 0.18% P). The biomass varied between 3,529-5,844 g/m2 and 883-1,156 g/m2 in the two respective sites. The juvenile plants of papyrus and Miscanthidium had higher concentrations of P and N in their organs compared to the mature ones. Considering the nutrients stored by the dominant vegetation and the current flow patterns of wastewater in the Nakivubo wetland, harvesting of the above ground biomass once a year, would remove 7.7% of the N input and 15.8% of the P input of the annual total load entering the wetland. However, if the wetland is bio-manipulated and the wastewater flow distributed over the whole wetland, up to 70% nitrogen and 76% phosphorus would be removed by harvesting above ground papyrus biomass.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗

Commentary on the significance for modern neurology of the 17th century B.C. Surgical Papyrus.

A 17th century B.C. Surgical Papyrus known as "The Edwin Smith Papyrus" was published in facsimile and hieroglyphic transliteration with translation and commentary by James Henry Breasted in 1930. The Papyrus was acquired by Edwin Smith in Luxor, 1862. This document was conceived in the Pyramid Age (3000-2500 B.C.) and remains in material form from the 17th century B.C. It is of importance to the history of Neurology as it contains the earliest mention in oriental literature of (a) the brain and meninges (b) calvarial and cervical vertebral injuries in details of pathology, symptomatology, treatment and prognosis and (c) functional localization in the brain and spine. Most importantly, Papyrus Smith is a statement of the medical ethic of its time.

Brain Injuries↗

Review of Papyrus bibliographic database software.

Papyrus is an inexpensive bibliographic database which provides some features not found in other similar packages. Its flexibility in handling references of many types and formats, its capacity for integration with manuscripts prepared with word processors, its capacity for importing references from national databases and its ability to perform microcosmic literature searches are attractive features. Because Papyrus has tackled a complex task, mastery of the intricacies of the program may present a substantial challenge to novice computer users. Although the manipulation of an existing customized bibliographic database would seem to be attractive for any researcher or author who prepares manuscripts for publication, the optimal use of the program also requires an extensive commitment of time and labor for the initial entry of all pertinent references into the database. While this could be accomplished gradually in conjunction with the preparation of individual manuscripts, the creation of a complete file of references could require hundreds of hours of labor. Individual authors, as well as larger research groups, should be prepared for this type of commitment before acquiring the Papyrus system.

Bibliographies as Topic↗

The Edwin Smith surgical papyrus: description and analysis of the earliest case of aphasia.

The Edwin Smith surgical papyrus, which dates back nearly five millennia, is the oldest known medical text and contains the first written example of the word "brain", as well as the earliest known descriptions of the meninges and the cerebrospinal fluid. The papyrus describes 48 cases and gives the first accounts of several forms of brain injury and their associated complications. The Egyptian author presents an analytical approach to the reported cases and classifies them as favourable, uncertain or intractable, depending on prognosis. The authors believe that case 20 of the papyrus presents the first possible case of aphasia, which occurred following head trauma. The patient, frustrated by his inability to speak, developed nuchal stiffness, which might have been due to meningeal irritation. The case concludes with the advice that a patient with such a grave condition should only be comforted, not treated.

Aphasia↗

[The Zagreb Etruscan ceremonial fragment and an ancient Egyptian medical papyrus].

The Archeological museum in Zagreb treasures the linen strips of an Egyptian mummy with inscriptions in Etruscan, and an Egyptian medical papyrus. The Etruscan text has been deciphered, but only a small part has been translated. This religious-magical ceremonial might be in relation with theurgical measures for health protection, promotion and restitution. The medical text on the papyrus is a hieratic script dating back to Pharaonic New Kingdom, probably a fragment of a medicine book similar to the Ebers papyrus. This article provides its transcription and translation. Three recipes for a powder and ointments which were used in the local treatment of inflammed moist skin lesions are presented.

Ceremonial Behavior↗

The Edwin Smith Surgical Papyrus.

The Edwin Smith Surgical Papyrus is undoubtedly one of the most significant medical texts ever discovered. It is of particular interest to neurosurgeons because of its specific references to ancient neurosurgical cases and is the first written record of many terms of neurosurgical interest. This review describes the colorful and controversial history of the Edwin Smith Papyrus and gives translations of four cases of neurosurgical interest.

Archaeology↗

Treatments for burns in the London Medical Papyrus show the first seven biblical plagues of Egypt are coherent with Santorini's volcanic fallout.

Six treatments for burns in the London Medical Papyrus provide data regarding a volcanic fallout over Egypt. They confirm a previously established scenario linking the medical text to one specific eruption, the one at Santorini in the Bronze Age. One treatment describes the contamination of waters with the ash. Four treatments describe the effects of the ash on the skin. The sixth treatment describes the effect of acid rain following the dispersion of ash in the atmosphere, which triggered weather anomalies. The scenario derived from the medical document, is based on ash from Santorini that sedimented at the bottom of Egyptian lakes, and fits the description of Egypt in the papyrus The Admonitions of an Egyptian Sage. Finally, the scenario explains the nature of first seven biblical plagues of Egypt in light of the aftermath of volcanic ash littering Egypt.

Acid Rain↗

Gynaecology from ancient Egypt: The papyrus Kahun: A translation of the oldest treatise on gynaecology that has survived from the ancient world.

This article presents a new translation of the papyrus Kahun. Interest in the papyrus lies in its being indisputably the most ancient document on gynaecology known. The text consists of a continuum of individual "cases" which lend themselves to subdivsion into four major sections. Selected commentaries accompany the translation which consist in the main of illuminating quotations from other Egyptian papyri. The aim is to propagate some insight into the gynaecological concepts behind medical practice around 2000 B.C.

Contraceptive Agents↗

PAPYRUS 3.0: DICOM-compatible file format.

This paper describes the PAPYRUS 3.0 file format based on the new DICOM 3.0 Standard which addresses the open interchange of medical images in files or on removable storage media. This specific implementation of the DICOM standard is intended as a generic solution for interchange of multi-modality medical images on removable media. It can also be used for convenient exchange of image data between different computer systems through industry standard file transfer mechanisms. Finally it can also be used for storage and archiving of medical image data in a DICOM-compatible format.

Computer Communication Networks↗

An aneurysm in the Papyrus of Ebers (108, 3-9).

One of the most ancient descriptions of arterial aneurysm occurs in a paragraph of the Ebers Papyrus: Egyptians considered it a consequence of a vascular lesion and treated it surgically, through an instrument, which had to be previously cauterized on fire.

Aneurysm↗