Balance in the Eco-system

Concept of eco-system:

There is an inseparable interrelationship between living organisms and their non-living organisms of particular area are included in the interaction with the non-living environment, the energy flow in a definite way or definite trophic. In this system, exchange of materials takes place between living organisms and non-living environment. The energy also flows in the same direction.

In the nature, the living and the non-living things exist in harmony and are inter-dependence. Plants obtain nourishment from the non-living world and animals depend on plants directly or indirectly for their existence. If one of the factors in this balance of nature is affected, the other factor is also affected. For example, if there would be no sun, there would be no plants and animals. If there would be no grass, there would be no animals that live on the grass and consequently, there would be no animals feeding on the grass-eating animals. Human beings, too, depending on plants and animals for food, cannot exist.

The plant and animals community living together make up the balance in the ecological system or eco-system of a place. Hence, eco-system refers to the balanced and maintained environment. The interaction between the living world and physical environment and between plants and animals establishes a balanced eco-system.

The living community is divided into three groups:

A) Producer: Producers are called the autotrophs because they prepare their own food. All the green plants are called the producers which range from microscopic to the largest tree. Light energy is fixed by chlorophyll of plants. During this process, inorganic substances are converted into organic substances.

B) Consumer: living organisms which consume the matter built by the consumers. They cannot make their own food. Consumers depend on others for their food requirements. The primary consumer depends directly on the producers for its existence while the secondary consumer depends on the primary consumer for its existence.

C) Decomposer: decomposers are microscopic living organisms. Decomposers consist of two classes of organisms: bacteria and fungi. Dead plants and animals undergo decay. Complex organic compounds are broken down into inorganic compounds. This decomposition process is brought about by decomposers. Inorganic compounds are reused by the plants. Decomposers are an important source of food for organisms such as worms and insects living in the soil and water.

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AIDS(Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome)

AIDS is a serious sexually transmitted fatal disease. AIDS was first described in medical literature in 1981 in homosexuals and hence the diagnosis of the first case. It is spreading to different countries and is threatening a global epidemic.

In the year 1985, it was postulated that AIDS may have originated in Africa as AIDS virus was endemic among African green monkey. Eating uncooked green monkeys brain may have caused transmission of virus to human beings who did not show any sign of illness at that time but acted as carriers.

The AIDS epidemic is like an ice-berg where a few proven cases of AIDS indicate that many more people are carrying the virus. Many of these carriers have no symptoms but can infect other innocent people.

Causes

The causes of AIDS is human immuno-deficiency virus. It belongs to a class of virus called retro-viruses. The virus was previously known as HTLV3(American) and LAV(French). In may 1986 the name HIV was recommended by international committee on taxonomy of viruses. Since then it is known as HIV.

The incubation period for AIDS varies from a few months to more than 2 years. In adults, AIDS may take an average of 10 years to develop. If it is communicable during this “latent period”, many who are feeling perfectly healthy, could silently be spreading the infection to hundreds or thousands of others.

Transmission

• Most of the reported cases of AIDS are sexually transmitted although some cases are due to transfer of semen, blood and blood product. Following are the known ways as to how AIDS virus can be transmitted from one person to another:
• The homosexual, bisexual and heterosexual people with multiple partners are prone to this disease.
• Transfusion of infected blood or blood products.
• Reusing or sharing of infected needle.
• During pregnancy or child birth the fetus can be infected by an infected mother.
• Recipients of semen or body organs from infected person are likely to catch the disease.

Clinical stages(symptoms)

The symptoms of HIV infection vary from complete absence of any symptom to debilitating nerological disorders, and AIDS is only the end stage of disease process. The clinical stages may be:

• As soon as HIV enters blood stream, it stimulates the immune system and produces antibodies.
• Some may suffer from mild febrile illness similar to influenza or glandular fever.
• Gradually the sero positive people may develop enlarged lymph nodes in groin, neck or axilla.
• The lymph-adenopathy may be accompanied by night sweat, fever, diarrhea, weight loss, fatigue, oral thrush, or herpes zoster infection.
• As the disease progresses, people gradually lose all natural defence mechanism. Finally the immune system collapses.
• Kopasi’s sarcoma is the most commonly seen malignancy in AIDS.
• HIV virus can pass through the blood-brain barrier which damage brain cells.

Prevention and control

As there is no cure and no vaccine for AIDS, prevention is the only answer to check further spread of the disease. The following measures will minimize the spread of AIDS:

Each and every citizen should get the information about AIDS and knowledge of how it is transmitted.

• Avoid sex with prostitutes and casual acquaintances.
• Avoid multiple partners and stick to one partner only.
• Use of condom reduces the risk of AIDS.
• Avoid injections and blood transfusion unless absolutely necessary.
• Avoid needle used by drug addicts and infected people.
• Intravenous drug abusers should understand that they should only use disposable syringes and destroy it after single use.
• Screening of blood should be introduced.
• Infected woman should be made aware that if they become pregnant, the baby runs the risk of getting the AIDS.
• If you are exposed to a risky situation, consult your doctor and get a blood test done immediately.

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Sexual transmitted diseases(STDs)

Sexual transmitted diseases(STDs)

The disease transmitted from one individual to another through the sexual contact is called sexually transmitted or veneral disease. Multiple partner for sexual interaction may lead to serious health problem and causes various veneral diseases. The diseases like syphilis, gonorrohea, AIDS are some examples of indisplined and halonhzard sexual behaviour. These diseases may be fetal or may create serious health problem.

Syphilis: syphilis is an acute and chronic infection caused by “spirochete or trepodema pallidum”. The disease is transmitted directly during sexual intercourse or congenitally by foetus in uterus. Syphilis is a common communicable disease with world-wide spread. It affects usually young teenage boys and girls. It is a social disease, more common in urban areas.

Transmission:

• It is by direct contact such as sexual intercourse and kissing during primary and secondary syphilis.
• Prenatal infection may occur after the 4the month of pregnancy through placenta of infected mother.
• Sometimes blood transfusion is also responsible for transmission of this disease.
• It may be transmitted indirectly through the infected articles such as clothes, towels, cups etc.
• The germs of syphilis may pass through cracks in skin or mucous membrane.

Primary stage:

It produces primary lesion, a score called a hard chancre. It is generally painless and can pass unnoticed.

• Enlargement of lymph gland in the groin.
• The chancre if left heals up leaving behind a scar. If treated, the disease is easily cured in the first stage.

Second stage:

• In untreated patients, the disease passes on to the second stage. The symptoms appear in 4 to 8 weeks after the chancre has disappeared without treatment. The usual symptoms are:
• Sore throat and skin rashes. This may cover only a part of the area or whole are of the body.
• Enlarged glands in the groin with fever.
• Pain in joints and headache will appear.
• The coppery patches on the palm are the special characteristic and differentiating feature from other rashes.
• Condylomata, loss of voice and loss of hair are seen.
• Enlargement of liver and spleen.
• These symptoms of second stage of syphilis will also disappear after a time with treatment. In case the disease is not treated, it becomes latent. This stage may last for years and the patient feel well.

Third stage:

In case the disease is not treated, manifestation of this stage starts usually after 4 to 5 years after infection. It may be seen.

• In the form of gumma.
• Manifestation of bone.
• Perforation of palate.
• Leukoplakin of the tongue.
• Degeneration of nerve cells and sometimes may cause paralysis, insanity or even blindness.
• Syphilis leads to abortion in pregnancy.
• Cardio-vascular system are affected leading to various manifestations.

Prevention

• People should be told about the risk of the sexual promiscuity and irregular sex life.
• Sex education and marriage counseling are needed in the schools and colleges in order to remove the ignorance about sex.
• All obscene commercial advertisements, books and films should be prohibited.
• Develop healthy sexual life.
• Avoid illegal sexual contact.
• In case of any doubt, early diagnosis and prompt treatment is necessary.

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Social changes and development in adolescence

Social changes and development in adolescence

Social animal. He is born in a society and he develops works and progresses in the society. Social development is very essential for proper adjustment in the society. In adolescence the child enters quite a new field of social responsibilities. The adolescence becomes self-conscious of his place in the society. In these circumstances, the major social changes that normally occur in adolescents are as follows:

i) Increased peer-group influence: with the advancing age, the child remains most of the time with his friends. The friends and type of peer-group the adolescent joins, shape his behavior, speech and interests than the family does. If members of the peer-group experiment with alcohol, drugs, or tobacco, adolescents are likely to do the same.

ii) Changes in social behavior: the most marked and important social change in adolescents is radical shift form disliking members of the opposite sex to preferring their companionship. Besides these, the adolescents make friendship with those who conform to their standard and do not tolerate the interference of parents and other members in selecting friends.

iii) There is an increasing interest to attend parties, fairs, and celebrations where members of both sexes meet.

iv) Adolescents take interest in taking up various types of problems.

v) Achievements whether in sports, school work, or social activities bring personal satisfaction in the adolescents.

vi) A strong desire for independence develops in adolescence. This leads to many clashes with parents and other adult in authority.

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Physical changes and development in adolescence

Physical changes and development in adolescence

In adolescence marked external and internal physical changes takes places which have significant behavioral implications.

i) Changes in height: Almost all boys and girls show a spurt in growth during adolescence.

ii) Changes in weight: It is similar to that for height changes.

iii) Changes in bodily proportion: Different parts of the body grow at different rates and attains their maximum development at different times. Thus, the various parts of the body gradually comes into proportion.

iv) Changes of voice: voice of boys becomes hoarse and girls voice becomes sweet during adolescence.

v) Sex organs: Both male and female sex organs reach their mature size in late adolescence.

vi) Secondary sex characteristics: Secondary sex characteristics, such as the growth of breast, widening of the pelvis, pubic hair, hair in arm pit and menstruation can be observed in the girls, whereas in the case of boys hair appear on upper limbs, beard, public hair and hairs in arm-pit, etc. develop during adolescence.

vii) Physiological changes: The internal system of the body acquire their full growth. In fact, all these physical changes make the adolescence self conscious.

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Mental changes and development in adolescence

Mental changes and development in adolescence

Mental changes and development during adolescence accelerates on many intellectual fronts. The mental development or changes in adolescence are characterized as under:

i) Ability to generalize the facts: Children usually generalize in relation to concrete objects, whereas adolescence can generalize in an abstract way.

ii) Increased ability to understanding: There is an increase in the ability to see relationship and to think the solution of more difficult problems.

iii) Development of memory and imagination: With the maturity of nervous system the memory power of adolescent increases. Besides this, they can imagine about a situation which is not physically present.

In spite of these changes, the ability to communication with other persons, moral concepts, decisions making and identification with conditions also develop significantly.

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Emotional changes and development in adolescence

Emotional changes and development in adolescence

Basically human beings are creatures of feeling or emotion. Our emotion controls our behavior. Adolescence is marked by heightened emotionality, therefore it has been thought of as a period of storm and stress. In fact adolescent boys and girls come under social pressure and face new conditions. The major emotional changes normally occur are as under:

i) Toleration of loneliness: The adolescent develop a feeling of loneliness.

ii) Bearing of tension: the adolescent feels a kind of inner freedom and freedom to feel and experience, which develop competencies to bear the tensions in different social situations.

iii) Emotional feelings are widened: Adolescent starts taking account of past and imagines of future. He/she starts appreciating elder and younger people, and emotionally attach them with a hero of his/her choice.

iv) Realism in emotional experiences: The adolescent enters the period of reality. Now he/she perceives and appreciates people around him/her.

v) Loyalties expand: the adolescents now start to feel their loyalties towards home, community and various other fields.

Besides these, the adolescents develop the capacity of sharing emotion, and reviewing of hopes. The adolescents express their anger by sulking, refusing to speak, or loudly criticizing those who anger them.

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Adolescence

Adolescence is the most important period of human life. Poets have described it as the spring of life human being and an important era in the total life span. The etymological meaning of ‘adolescence is to grow to maturity’. Adolescence is the span of years during which boys and girls move from childhood to adulthood, mentally, emotionally, socially and physically.

According to a group of psychologists, it is the period when an individual is capable of begetting offspring. It means that then we can say he/she has become an adolescent.

As it is used today, the term adolescence has broader meaning. It includes mental, emotional, and social maturity as well as physical maturity. It is customary to regard adolescence as the beginning when children become sexually mature and ending when they reach the age of legal maturity. Chronologically, adolescence comes roughly in between the years from 12 to the early 20s. The onset of adolescence varies form culture to culture depending on the socio-economic conditions of the society and the country. In this period, great changes occur in all development dimensions of the individual.

Adolescence is the most important period compared to others because of their immediate effects on attitude and behavior. Similarly, it also characterized by transitional period; period of change, age of problem, time of search for identity, time of unrealism, and threshold of adulthood. So, they begin to concentrate on behavior that is associated with the adult status, such as smoking, drinking, using drugs, and engaging in sex.

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