The aim of this thesis is to examine changes in the status of traditional Egyptian religious culture during the Ptolemaic and Roman periods, from 331 BCE to 313 CE. Four distinct categories of material culture are examined: monumental construction of temples and civic buildings, traditional hard-stone sculpture, Alexandrian tombs, and Roman coins. These bodies of evidence were chosen because each offers a unique perspective, reflecting respectively the personal inclinations and official attitudes of both the culturally Hellenic and indigenous elites, which have not previously been studied in this context. Examined together for the first time, these categories reveal commonalities that show clearly the progression of the status of indigenous religious culture. From this, it is argued that, despite being economically disadvantaged by the Roman administration, the high status of this culture persisted in Egyptian society under both the Ptolemies and the Romans. Patterns of Egyptian temple and classical civic building show that Egypt's indigenous elite controlled the resources allocated for temple construction under the Ptolemies, but that the Romans gradually transferred this land into the management of the culturally Hellenic elite. This resulted in a decrease in Egyptian temple building after the first century CE and a corresponding increase in classical construction from then on. The production of hard-stone statues is shown for the first time to reveal that the indigenous elite had the resources and cultural confidence to continue and develop their traditions under the Ptolemies, while the sharp decrease at the start of the Roman period reflects their diminution in autonomy and prosperity under Roman rule. New analysis of traditional elements and motifs in the tombs of Alexandrian elites shows that this group respected and adopted indigenous religious customs and beliefs, with a higher incidence of indigenous imagery in the Roman period compared with the Ptolemaic period. In a similar way, well-informed Egyptian religious iconography rendered in a classical style on Alexandrian coins demonstrates the respect of the Roman authorities for Egyptian religious cults and institutions at an official level. In sum, it is argued that indigenous religious culture largely maintained its privileged economic and social status throughout the Ptolemaic period, despite political upheavals. Under Roman rule, the individuals and institutions representing Egyptian religious culture were disadvantaged economically; however, its social importance and standing were preserved and it continued to enjoy respect.

Since the first modern investigations into Egyptian mummies in the 1970s, anthracosis and silicosis have regularly been found in mummified lungs (Tapp, 1975; Walker et al, 1987). Anthracosis, lung irritation caused by carbon particles, is well researched in modern populations but very little is known about the disease in ancient times. Similarly, little is known about the prevalence of silicosis, caused by the inhalation of particles of silicon, in ancient times. It has been assumed that carbon was inhaled through the combustion of fuel for cooking and illumination whilst silicon came from the desert environment.This study aims to test these assumptions by characterising the shape, size and elemental composition of the organic and inorganic particles contained within ancient lung tissue. When these particles are compared against surrogate carbon and silicon particles, it may be possible to identify them and reveal their aetiology.Surrogate carbon particles were produced through controlled combustion of fuels the ancient Egyptians are likely to have used. The modern silica containing sand was collected from various archaeological sites in Egypt. A sonication method was used to extract particles from ancient tissue. After extraction, individual ancient particles were isolated and examined for size and shape analysis using light microscopy. The surrogate particles were examined in the same manner. The particles were then imaged using environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) and elemental profiles determined by energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX). Bulk analysis by mass spectrometry was then employed to qualitatively and quantitatively analyse the elements contained within ancient lung particles and the modern surrogates. Electron probe micro-analysis (EPMA) was used to map the deposition and elemental composition of inorganic compounds in sections of ancient lung. Further information on the bonds and chain length of soots were obtained through FTIR and Raman spectroscopy.Results have shown the presence of anthracosis and birefringent particles in all ancient lung tissues examined by this study. Both organic and inorganic ancient particles have been found to be respirable (ie, less than 10 microns in diameter) and were present in the lung pre-mortem. EDX and ICP-MS results show the inorganic particles to consist of aluminium silicates (sand) and calcium carbonate (limestone). FTIR and Raman spectroscopy were not accurate enough to detect the ancient or surrogate soot bonds and were not suited to this study.

This thesis contributes to the discussion of register variation within Egyptian Arabic by focusing on the usage of verbs in blogs and transcripts of movies and television. Register variation has been extensively researched for English as well as several other languages; yet, the lexical and grammatical features that distinguish registers of Egyptian Arabic have not been analyzed. Several challenges have prevented such an analysis, among them the perceived lack of an automatic annotator and the uncertainty of results. In order to overcome these challenges, two corpora were compiled: one containing texts from blogs and the other transcripts of movies and television shows. With each corpus representing a potential register of the dialect, the verbs in each corpus were lemmatized and semi-automatically annotated for either aspect or mood. The verbs were then counted according to lemma, aspect, and mood in order to determine the extent of variance between the two corpora. The effectiveness of the state-of-the-art automatic annotator was also evaluated by comparing the counts it provided to those produced from corrections of its output. This thesis found that verbs are in fact used differently in the two corpora suggesting register variation and identified potential verbal features characteristic of each register. It also found that the automatic tagger produced counts that lead to the same conclusions as the corrected annotation.

Broomrapes are achlorophyllous holoparasites of many economically important dicotyledonous crops. As weeds, they cause reductions in crop yield, adversely affect crop quality, and result in loss of cultivated land due to reduced crop alternatives. Few effective control measures exist for broomrapes. One of the most promising approaches is the use of low rates of glyphosate in hosts with tolerance to the herbicide. Recently, availability of glyphosate-resistant crops has provided an alternative in broomrape infested areas. Knowledge about the nitrogen status of broomrapes is essential for developing new control strategies. Broomrapes have two potential sources of amino acids. First, the haustorium aids in the translocation of amino acids from the host plant to the parasites. Second, broomrapes may be able to synthesize some amino acids themselves and obtain the rest from the host. However, the relative importance of these two modes of acquiring amino acids by broomrapes is not clear. Osmotic stress has been implicated as a possible reason for inhibition of broomrape germination by nitrogen. To date, there has been no attempt to correlate osmotic potential with nitrogen induced inhibition of broomrape germination. Optimum temperatures for conditioning and germination are different among broomrape species. Although temperature is known to influence germination in broomrape, its effect on subsequent development of the parasitic seedling has not been studied. Studies were conducted to determine the use of glyphosate in controlling broomrape in common vetch that is tolerant to low rates of glyphosate, and to compare this response with broomrape control in oilseed rape that has been genetically engineered for glyphosate resistance. Glyphosate dose response studies using a commercial formulation and patterns of absorption, translocation, and metabolism, using ¹⁴C-glyphosate, were determined for both host crops. Glyphosate significantly reduced the growth of broomrape at 0.18 and 0.36 kg ae ha⁻¹> in common vetch and 0.25 to 0.75 kg ha⁻¹ in oilseed rape. More than 25% of translocated ¹⁴C-glyphosate in both host crops accumulated in broomrape tubercles. Broomrape parasitism caused a redistribution of translocated ¹⁴C-glyphosate in the roots of both host crops. Glyphosate was metabolized up to 25% in common vetch, but remained intact in oilseed rape. Studies were conducted to analyze amino acid composition of both nonparasitized and broomrape-parasitized hosts and associated broomrape after hydrolysis and phenylisothiocyanate derivatization of amino acids. Results indicated that amino acid concentrations of leaves of parasitized carrot plants were lower than those of the leaves of nonparasitized carrot plants. Broomrape tubercles had equal or higher amino acid concentrations compared to those of the leaves of nonparasitized carrot plants. Levels of free alanine and arginine concentrations of broomrape callus were higher than those of any other tissue of either carrot or broomrape. The effect of glyphosate on the host-broomrape interaction regarding amino acid metabolism was examined. Glyphosate generally increased the amino acid concentrations in common vetch and oilseed rape plants, and broomrape attachments. The aromatic amino acids, phenylalanine and tyrosine, did not differ from this pattern. Concentrations of certain amino acids in broomrape were similar to those of parasitized common vetch and parasitized oilseed rape, whereas levels of several others, were higher in broomrape attachments compared to the host plants. <I>In vitro</I> studies were conducted to determine the influence of osmotic potential and temperature on broomrape germination. Osmotic potential significantly affected germination and radicle elongation of broomrapes. No correlation was found between osmotic potential and ammonium-induced inhibition of germination of broomrapes. Temperature significantly influenced germination and radicle elongation of all broomrape species tested. / Ph. D.

The Egyptian Fractions of One problem (EFO), asks the following question: Given a positive integer n, how many ways can 1 be expressed as the sum of n non-increasing unit fractions? In this paper, we verify a result concerning the EFO problem for n=8, and show the computational complexity of the problem can be severely lessened by new theorems concerning the structure of solutions to the EFO problem. / Master of Science / Expressing numbers as fractions has been the subject of one’s education since antiquity. This paper shows how we can write the number 1 as the sum of uniquely behaved fractions called “unit fractions”, that is, fractions with 1 in the numerator and some natural counting number in the denominator. Counting the number of ways this can be done reveals certain properties about the prime numbers, and how they interact with each other, as well as pushes the boundaries of computing power.

Thesis (PhD(Food Sc))--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In Southern Africa, the hunting of wildfowl species has increased considerably in the past few years. Crop farmers incur major financial losses due to the feeding activities of Egyptian geese (Alopochen aegyptiacus); consequently a large number of geese are hunted in an attempt to reduce the damage caused. With the current absence of scientific information baseline research investigating the meat quality of this species is essential. The sensory profile of Egyptian goose meat was found to be very distinct in relation to the characteristics of other well-known fowl species. It has very strong game aroma and flavour attributes with a prominent metallic aftertaste. The intense aroma and flavour notes were linked to the substantially higher iron content, as well as the high overall polyunsaturated fatty acid content as revealed by chemical profiling. The trained sensory panel also found the meat to be very tough (high shear force) compared to the other species. To identify the factors which may affect the overall consistency of the meat quality, the influence of three main effects namely; season (grain vs. non-grain diet), gender and portion was investigated. This revealed that season had the largest effect and harvesting periods should therefore be considered. The main issue is the higher intramuscular fat (IMF) content in winter (July), as well as the substantial difference in the fatty acid profiles of the two seasons. The forage vs. grain based diets during certain periods of the year leads to variation in the content of key fatty acids in the meat i.e. oleic acid, linoleic acid and α-linolenic acid. In winter, the meat had a characteristic, prominent game and metallic aroma while the summer (November) profile was governed by “sweet-oily-duck” and beef-like sensory notes. The fatty acid differences also result in variation between the omega 6 to omega 3 ratios of the seasons; the portions from winter are within the recommendations (ratio<5) and those from summer not. Regarding gender, the females had a lower carcass yield but higher IMF content. The female breast portion was also more tender (lower shear force). In attempting to elucidate the toughness of the meat, possible causes have been proposed. The pH decline in the pectoralis muscle occurs quite rapidly and it is possible that the high rigor temperature (>20 °C) may contribute to the increased toughness. Regardless of the proteolytic enzyme activity during the rigor period, the meat is still tough at 36 h post mortem and the proteolytic contribution may be overshadowed by the background toughness, i.e. the connective tissue content and fibre structure. The latter was confirmed when the breast portions were aged for 14 days and no change (decline) in the shear force values was observed even though myofibrillar degradation did occur (during ageing). Given the lack of a decline in the shear force, the aging of Egyptian goose meat as a means of improving the overall toughness cannot be proposed without further research. The study in its entirety provides substantial proof that the commercial utilisation of Egyptian goose meat is feasible. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die jag van wildsvoël spesies in Suider-Afrika het aansienlik toegeneem in die laaste paar jaar. Graanboere lei jaarliks groot finansiële verliese as gevolg van die voedingsgedrag van kolganse (Alopochen aegyptiacus). Gevolglik word ‘n groot hoeveelheid ganse elke jaar geoes om sodoende die skade te verminder. Met die huidige tekort aan wetenskaplike inligting is grondslag navorsing rakende die vleiskwaliteit van hierdie wildsvoël spesie noodsaaklik. Die sensoriese profiel van kolgansvleis is baie uniek in vergelyking met die vleis van ander bekende voël spesies. Dit word gekenmerk deur die sterk wildagtige aroma en geur tesame met ‘n baie prominente metaal nasmaak. Hierdie intense aroma en geur hou verband met ‘n baie hoër yster-inhoud, asook ‘n hoë poli-onversadigde vetsuur profiel soos uitgewys deur die chemiese karakteriserings studie. Die opgeleide sensoriese proepaneel het ook die vleis van hierdie voël spesie beskou as baie taai in vergelyking met die vleis van ander spesies. Ten einde te bepaal watter faktore die algehele variasie in vleiskwaliteit sal beïnvloed, is drie hoofeffekte naamlik, seisoen (graan teenoor nie-graan dieet), geslag en porsie ondersoek. Die verskeie studies het uitgewys dat seisoen die grootste invloed het en daarom sal die periodes waarin ganse geoes word in ag geneem moet word. Die hoër intramuskulêre vetinhoud in winter (Julie), asook die aansienlike verskil in die vetsuur profiele van die twee seisoene is die vernaamste verskille. Die weiding (hoofsaaklik gras) teenoor graan diëte wat gevolg word in sekere dele van die jaar lei tot variasie in die inhoud van belangrike vetsure (oliensuur, linoleïensuur en α-linoleensuur) in die vleis. In die winter het die vleis die kenmerkende en prominente wild geur en metaalagtige nasmaak getoon terwyl die profiel in die somer (November) hoofsaaklik bestaan het uit “soet-olierige-eend” en beesvleis geure. Die vetsuur verskille lei ook tot ‘n verskil in die omega-6 tot omega-3 verhouding van die seisoene; in die winter is die porsies binne die aanbevole voedingsvereistes (<5) terwyl die somer porsies nie aan hierdie vereistes voldoen het nie. Rakende die invloed van geslag, het die vroulike voëls ‘n laer karkas massa getoon tesame met ‘n laer intramuskulêre vetinhoud. Die borsie van die vroulike kolganse was ook sagter. In ‘n poging om die taaiheid van kolgansvleis te verklaar, is ‘n paar moontlike oorsake voorgestel. Die na-doodse pH daling in die borsspier vind redelik snel plaas, daarbenewens is dit ook moontlik dat die hoë temperature (>20 °C) waartydens rigor mortis plaasvind, kan bydrae tot die taaiheid. Ongeag die werking van die proteolitiese ensieme tydens die rigor periode was die vleis steeds taai 36 uur na dood, daarom was die proteolitiese bydrae moontlik oorskadu deur die agtergrond-taaiheid, dit wil sê die bindweefsel inhoud en vesel struktuur. Laasgenoemde is bevestig toe die borsspiere verouder is vir ‘n tydperk van 14 dae. Geen verandering (afname) in die instrumentele taaiheid is waargeneem nie, selfs al het miofibrillêre afbraak plaasgevind. Aangesien daar geen afname in instrumentele taaiheid opgemerk is nie kan veroudering van kolgansvleis, met die doel om die taaiheid te verbeter, nie aanbeveel word voor verdere navorsing nie. In geheel voorsien hierdie studie beduidende motivering rakende die moontlike kommersiële aanwending van kolgansvleis.

This thesis establishes the basic images of the gazelle in ancient Egyptian art and their meaning. A chronological overview of the categories of material featuring gazelle images is presented as a background to an interpretation. An introduction and review of the characteristics of the gazelle in the wild are presented in Chapters 1-2. The images of gazelle in the Predynastic material are reviewed in Chapter 3, identifying the desert hunt as the main setting for gazelle imagery. Chapter 4 reviews the images of the gazelle in the desert hunt scenes from tombs and temples. The majority of the motifs characteristic for the gazelle are found in this context. Chapter 5 gives a typological analysis of the images of the gazelle from offering processions scenes. In this material the image of the nursing gazelle is given particular importance. Similar images are also found on objects, where symbolic connotations can be discerned (Chapter 6). References to healing and regeneration are found, particularly in relationship to the context of the objects. The gazelle is found in a divine context in a limited material (Chapter 7). A discussion of these sources sees a focus on the gazelle as representative for the desert mountains as the setting for death and rebirth. This relates to the gazelle as a feminine image with a connection to the models of female divinity (Chapter 8).

Thesis (doctoral) -- Universität Hamburg, 2006/7. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 135-139).

"A thesis approved by the University of London for the degree of PH. D." / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.A.)--Utah State University, Dept. of History, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 104-108).