Agricultural science and practice

Agricultural science and practice REVIEW OF LITERATURE INTERCROPPING Intercropping of cereals and grain legumes is a neglected theme in agricultural science and practice in both conventional and organic farming systems (Dahlmann, and Von Fragstein2006). The fast rising population in many tropical countries is one of the reasons for enormous growing demand for food. The increasing urbanization due to world growing population has affected food production leading to irrevocable loss of arable land. Opening up new land for cultivation can enhance the decrease of agriculture. Farmers and researchers should be conscious that cost-benefit ratio bringing new land under cultivation is smaller than that of increasing production of already cultivated land, which may lead to increase in production per unit area. Intercropping tenders farmers the opportunity to engage natures principle of diversity on their farms. Spatial arrangements of plants, planting rates, and maturity dates must be considered when planning intercrops. Intercrops can be more fruitful than growing monocropping. Many different intercrop systems have been studied, including mixed intercropping, strip cropping, and customary intercropping provisions. Pest management benefits can also be realized from intercropping due to augmented diversity. Harvesting options for intercrops include hand harvest, machine harvest for on-farm feed, and animal harvest of the standing crop. Most grain-crop mixtures with similar ripening times cannot be machine-harvested to produce a marketable commodity since few buyers purchase mixed grains. Dispite its advantages intercropping is neglected due to complex nature of intercropping systems. In intercropping systems an LER measures 1.0, it tells us that the amount of land required for crops grown together is the same as that for these grown in pure stand (i.e., neither loss nor loss due to intercropping over pure stands). LERs above 1.0 demonstrate an advantage to intercropping, while numbers below 1.0 diplay a disadvantage to intercropping. For example, an LER of 1.25 tells us that the yield produced in the total intercrop system would have required 25% more land if planted in pure stands. If the LER was 0.75, we know the intercrop yield was only 75% of that of the same amount of land that grew pure stands. Pakistan is a subtropical country having sufficient resources with high intensity of sunlight required for plant growth. Therefore, possibility of intercropping of different crops on the same piece of land in a year needs to be explored for effective and efficient utilization of these natural resources. Intercropping is being looked as an efficient utilization of these natural resources and economical production system as it increases the production per unit area and time. Presently, interest in intercropping is increasing among the small growers because of their diversified needs and meagre farm returns from the monocropping system. Planning of cropping system should be done yearly on entire catchment basis. The type of planning should lead to a proper balance between food, fiber and fodder crops. When the rainfall is between 500-700 mm with a distinct period of moisture surplus, intercropping system should be adopted for improved crop production. Even in higher rainfall areas (750- 1100 mm) intercropping facilitates growing either cereal-legume or legume-legume system of different maturity patterns. Intercropping minimize risk of crop failure in drylands. Mixed cropping (mixing seeds of two or more crops and broad casting the mixture) should be avoided as it hinders post-sowing operations. Choice of varieties with in the crops is very important to harness total intercropping advantage. Cereal-legume intercropping systems should be advocated to minimize fertilizer use,.? reduce pest and disease incidence, produce balance foods, ?provide protein rich legume fodder for cattle,? take full advantage of growing seaso n. Cereal-legume intercropping plays an important role in subsistence food production in both developed and developing countries, especially in situations of inadequate water resources (Tsubo et al., 2005). Intercropping cereals and grain legumes can be very potential for both organic and conservative farmers. The use of land equivalent ratio (LER) as a measure for calculating the cropping advantage of intercrops over sole crops is simple, ignoring weed inhibition, yield reliability, grain quality, and minimum advantageous yield are all relevant factors for farmers perspective (Prins and de Wit 2005). Intercropped legumes secure most of their nitrogen from the atmosphere and not compete with maize nitrogen resources (Adu-Gyamfi et al. ,2007). Increased diversity of the physical structure of plants and increased leaf cover in an intercropping system facilitates to reduce weed infestations once crop are established (Beet1990). Having a variety of root system in the soil reduces water loss, enhances water uptake and reduce transpiration. The increased transpiration may make the microclimate cooler, which cools the soil and decrease evaporation (Innis 1997). In this way during times of water stress, intercropped plants utilize a larger percentage of available water from the field than monocropped plants. Creating windbreaks may also modify the microclimate. Rows of maize in a field with a short stature crop would reduce wind speed above the shorter crop and thus deceasechance of desiccation (Beet1990). Intercropped legumes fix most of their nitrogen from the atmosphere and not compete with maize for nitrogen resources (Adu-Gyamfi et al. ,2007; Vesterager et al.,2008). Diversification of cropping systems, i.e. smaller fields and mixtures of crop species (intercropping) was much more in vouge Pre World War II. Intercropping, the simultaneously cultivation of more than one species in the same field, is a cropping method, which often result in a more efficient use of resources, cause more stable yields in problematic environments and a method to reduce problems with weeds, plant pathogens and nitrogen losses post grain legume harvest.In this context a greater introduction of longterm rotations, intercrops and grain legumes play an important role (Jensen 1997; Karlen1994). Intercropping of cereal and legume crops facilitates to maintain and improve soil fertility (Andrew, 1979). Intercropping of legumes with cereals has been popular in tropics (Hauggaard-Nielsen et al.,, 2001; Tsubo et al.,,2005) and rain-fed tracts of the globe (Banik et al.,, 2000; Ghosh, 2004; Agegnehu et al.,, 2006; Dhima et al.,,2007) due to its benefits for soil conservation (Anil et al., 1998), weed control (Poggio, 2005; Banik et al.,,2006), lodging resistance (Anil et al.,, 1998), yield enhancemnent (Anil et al.,, 1998; Chen et al.,, 2004), hay curing, forage preservation over pure legumes, more crude protein percentage and protein yield (Qamar et al.,, 1999; Karadag and Buyukburc, 2004), and contols legume root parasite infections (Fenandez-Aparicio et al.,,2007). Different seeding ratios or planting patterns for cereal-legume intercropping have been accomplished by many researchers (Tsubo et al.,, 2001; Karadag and Buyukburc, 2004; Banik et al.,, 2006; Dhima et al.,, 2007). Competition among mixtures is thought to be the major characteristic affecting yield as compared with monocropping of cereals. Species or cultivar selections, seeding ratios, and inter and intra specific competition among mixtures may influence the growth of the species grown in intercropping systems in rain-fed areas (Santalla et al.,, 2001; Karadag and Buyukburc, 2004; Carr et al.,, 2004; Agegnehu et al.,, 2006; Banik et al.,, 2006; Dhima et al.,, 2007). Various competition indices such as land equivalent ratio (LER), relative crowding coefficient (RCC), competitive ratio (CR), actual yield loss (AYL), monetary advantage(MI) and intercropping advantage(IA) have been anticipated to portray competition within and economic advantages of intercropping systems (Banik et al.,, 2000; Ghosh, 2004; Agegnehu et al.,, 2006; Banik et al.,, 2006; Dhima et al.,, 2007). However, such indices have not been used for maize and common bean intercropping to determine the competition among species and also economic advantages of each intercropping system in the East Mediterranean region. Higher monetary returns were obtained compared to sole cropping when bush beans intercropped with sweet maize (Santalla et al.,, 2001). Higher seed yield and net income under planting pattern with changing mix-proportions may be explained in higher total productivity under intercropping with relatively less input investment (Banik et al.,, 2006). Tsubo et al., (2005) formed a simulation model to find out the best planting methods for maize and bean intercrops in sub-arid South Africa. Based on 52 years of weather data, they compared the best planting time, optimal water saturation at planting, maize plant density, and bean plant density to receive the highest LER, energy value (EV), and monetary value (MV) from the intercropped field. For every combination of factors, a LER greater than 1.0 was found, indicating that intercropping of maize and beans increases total yield. The simulations show that initial soil water content has the greatest influence on intercropping productivity. Bean plant density had no influence on maize or bean yields, indicating that maize yield is not affected by bean intercropping, although bean yields were decreased in the intercropped system (Tsubo et al., 2005). High densities of maize maximized maize yield and calorie production, but high densities of beans maximized financial return. Decline of e xternal inputs and increases of homegrown feed together with a more efficient nutrient use from leguminous symbiotic dinitrogen (N2) fixation (SNF) can result in a decrease of nitrogen and mineral losses. Maize-legume intercropping systems are able to lessen amount of nutrients taken from the soil in comparasion to a maize monocrop. Organizing the complication of exchanges that are possible due to the physical constraints of diversity are present in the farm system is vital part of reducing the need for external inputs and moving toward sustainability (Herrera, 1974). Increasing diversity often allows better resources use efficiency in agro ecosystem because with higher diversity, there is larger microhabitat differentiation, allowing the components species and varieties of the system to grow in an environment ideally fitting to its unique requirements (Mazaheri and Oveysi, 2004; Willey and Reddy1981; and Yancey, 1994). A key and straight way of rising diversity of an agro ecosystem is intercropping system that allows interaction between the individuals of the different crops and varieties (Mazaheri, 2004; Willey, 1981 and Venkatswarlu1981). Intercropping can add temporal diversity through the sequential planting of different crops during the same season (Yancey, 1994). Importance of multiple cropping is increasing world food supplies. An LER value of 1.0, indicating no difference in yield between the intercrop and the collection of monocultures (Mazaheri and Oveysi, 2004 and Kurata 1986). Any Value greater than 1.0 indicates a yield advantage for intercrop. A LER of 1.2 for example, indicates that the area planted to monocultures would need to be 20% greater than the area planted to intercrop for the two to produce the same combined yields (Laster and Furr,1972). Intercropping in cassava was beneficial in increasing the biological yield, tuber equivalent yield and land use efficiency. Cassava tuber equivalent yield, LER, ATER and AHER were higher in cassava + cowpea combinations.(Amanullah et al., 2006). Mixed culture (or intercropping) of legumes and cereals is an old practice in tropical agriculture that dates back to ancient civilization. The main objective of intercropping has been to maximum utilization of resources such as space, light and nutrients (Willey, 1990; Morris and Garrity, 1993; Li et al.,, 2003b), as well as to improve crop quality and quantity (Nel, 1975; Izaurralde et al.,, 1990; Mpairwe et al.,, 2002). Other benefits include water quality control through least use of inorganic nitrogen fertilisers that pollute the environment (Crew and Peoples, 2004). The contemporary drift in global agriculture is to search for highly productive, sustainable and environmentally safe cropping systems (Crew and Peoples, 2004). This has resulted into renewed interest in cropping systems research (Vandermeer, 1989). When two crops are grown in association, interspecific competition or facilitation between plants may take place (Vandermeer, 1989; Zhang et al.,, 2003).Different studies have shown that mixtures of cereals and legumes produce higher grain yields than either crop grown unaccompanied (Mead and Willey, 1980; Horwith, 1984; Tariah and Wahua, 1985; Ofori and Stern, 1987a; Lawson and Kang, 1990; Watiki et al.,, 1993; Peter and Runge-Metzger, 1994; Skovgard and Pats, 1999; Rao and Mathuva, 2000; Olufemi et al.,, 2001; Mpairwe et al.,, 2002; Dapaah et al.,, 2003). In such crop mixtures, the yield increases were not only due to enhanced nitrogen nourishment of the cereal component, but also to other unexplored causes (Nel, 1975; Connolly et al.,, 2001). Many of the unknown and less research processes occur in the rhizosphere of mixtures (Connolly et al.,, 2001; Zhang et al.,, 2003, 2004). The rhizosphere soil is the narrow zone of soil neighboring the roots where soil, micro-organisms and roots jointly play key roles in the soil ecosystem. Compared with the bulk soil, the rhizosphere has diverse biological, physical and chemical soil properties. It is rich in root exudates, and, therefore, play a major role in nutrient mobilisation and microbial activities (Dakora and Phillips, 2002; Dakora, 2003). So far however, little attention has been paid to rhizosphere effects on crops grown in mixtures (Connolly et al.,, 2001; Zhang et al.,, 2003; 2004), where interaction between different organisms is high. The major management practices employed in mixed cultures to attain good yield includes the enhancement of microclimatic conditions, improved utilisation and recycling of soil nutrients, improved soil quality, provision of favourable hab itats for plants and stabilisation of soil, among others (Juma et al.,, 1997). Most of intercropping systems are intentionally made and manipulated to optimise the use of spatial, temporal, and physical resources both above-and belowground, by maximising positive interactions (facilitation) and minimizing negative ones (competition) among the components (Willey and Osiru, 1972; Willey, 1979; Mead and Willey, 1980; Horwith, 1985; Ofori and Stern, 1986, 1987a, b; Jose et al.,, 2000; Silwana and Lucas, 2002). An understanding of the biological and chemical processes and mechanisms involved in the distribution of resources in such systems is indispensable. The complex interactions in legume/cereal cropping systems such as those used by traditional farmers have received little research attention (Connolly et al.,, 2001; Zhang et al.,, 2004) because quantitative rhizosphere studies in the field involving complex mixtures are notoriously complex and cumbersome. These conditions are achieved by manipulating management practices such as planting patterns of the mixtures with the selection of appropriate cropping systems. Interactions will occur in the growth process, especially when the component species are exploiting the resources above-and below-ground (Vandermer, 1989; Willey, 1990; Ong et al.,, 1996) from the same niche or at the same time. In crop mixtures, any species utilizing the same combination of resources will be in direct competition. However, based on differences in phenological characteristics of species in asocition, the interaction among them may lead to an increased capture of a limiting growth resource (Willey and Osiru, 1972; Willey, 1979; Mead and Willey, 1980; Horwith, 1985; Ofori and Stern, 1986, 1987a,b; Silwana and Lucas, 2002) and then amassing larger total yield than the collective production of those species if they were grown separately on an equivalent land area (Mead and Ndakidemi 2527 Willey, 1980; Horwith, 1984; Tariah and Wahua, 1985; Ofori and Stern, 1987a; Lawson and Kang, 1990; Watiki et al.,, 1993; Peter and Runge-Metzger, 1994; Myaka, 1995; Asafu-Agyei et al.,, 1997; Skovgard and Pats, 1999; Rao and Mathuva, 2000; Olufemi et al.,, 2001; Dapaah et al.,, 2003). Thus, mixed cropping systems between cereals and legumes may face a complex series of inter- and intra-specific interaction (Izaurralde et al.,, 1990; Giller and Cadisch, 1995; Evans et al.,, 2001; Li et al.,, 2003c) geared by modifications and utilisation of light, water, nutrients and enzymes. Most annual crop mixtures such as those involving cereals and legumes are grown almost at the same time, and develop root systems that acquire the same soil zone for resources (Horwith, 1984; Chang and Shibles, 1985a,b; Reddy et al.,, 1994; Jensen et al.,, 2003). Under such circumstances, below-ground competition for resources such as nutrients is most likely to take place. For example, research has shown that activities in maize + cowpea intercropping take place between the top 30-45 cm of soil, and their intensity decreased with depth (Maurya and Lal, 1981; McIntyre et al.,, 1997). Because of these interactions, cowpea yields can be reduced significantly in relationto that of maize (Watiki et al.,, 1993). In contrast to some negative effects on yield, root systems in mixtures may provide some of the major favorable effects on soil and plants. These include, amongst others, carbon enrichment through higher carbon return (Ridder et al.,, 1990; Vanlauwe et al.,, 1997), discharge of phenolics, phytosiderophores and carboxylic acids as root exudates by companion plants (Dakora and Phillips, 2002; Dakora, 2003). These compounds play a major role in the mineral nutrition of plants. For instance, some studies have displayed that, in P-deficient soils, pigeon pea roots utilize piscidic, malonic, and oxalic acids to solubilise Fe-, Ca- and Al-bound P (Ae et al.,, 1990). Once mobilised, P and Fe then become available for uptake by the pigeon pea plant as well as by plant species grown in association and micro flora in the cropping system.This is due to the fact that, thus far, research efforts on mixed cultures has centered on the intra- and inter-specific competition for light and water, and re search reports on competition for nutrients in legumes and cereal mixtures (Connolly et al.,, 2001; Zhang et al.,, 2003, 2004). It is, therefore, imperative to discover how the rhizosphere systems of the associated plant species in mixtures interact under different legume-cereal cropping systems. Rhizospheric pH changes in different management systems in legume/cereal mixtures Many plants have the ability to alter the pH of their rhizosphere (Hoffland et al.,, 1989, 1992; Raven et al.,, 1990; Degenhardt et al.,, 1998; Muofhe and Dakora, 2000; Dakora and Phillips, 2002) and improve nutrient availability such as P, K, Ca, and Mg, which are otherwise fixed and not available to plants (Vandermeer, 1989; Hauggaard- Nielson and Jensen, 2005). For instance, legumes induce numerous reactions that modify the rhizosphere pH (Jarvis and Robson, 1983; McLay et al.,, 1997; Tang et al.,, 1998, 2001) and influence nutrient uptake (Brady, 1990; Vizzatto et al.,, 1999). For example, Dakora et al., (2000) have shown that due to pH changes in the rhizosphere, Cyclopia genistoides, a tea-producing legume native to South Africa, increased nutrient availability in its rhizosphere by 45 120% for P, 108 161% for K, 120 148% for Ca, 127 225% for Mg and 117 250% for boron (B) compared to bulk non-rhizosphere soil. Hence, legumes may take up higher amounts of base cations, and in the process of balancing internal charge, release H+ ions into the rhizosphere that results in soil acidification (Jarvis and Robson, 1983; McLay et al.,, 1997; Tang et al.,, 1998, 2001; Sas et al.,, 2001; Dakora and Phillips, 2002; Cheng et al.,, 2004). Other legumes such as alfalfa, chickpea, lupines, and cowpea can release considerable amounts of organic anions and lower their rhizospere pH (Liptone et al.,, 1987; Dinkelaker et al.,, 1989, 1995; Braum and Helmke, 1995; Gilbert et al.,, 1999; Neumann et al.,, 1999; Rao et al.,, 2002; Li et al.,, 2004b), a condition favorable for the hydrolysis of organic P and hence improving P2O5 nutrition for plants and micro organism in the soil. In the same context, white lupine (Lupinus albus) exuded organic acids anions and protons that lowered rhizosphere pH and recovered substantial amount of P2O5 from the soil and made them more available to wheat than when it was grown in solitary cropping system (Horst and Waschkies, 1987; Kamh et al.,, 1999). Similarly, pigeon pea increased P2O5 uptake of the intercropped sorghum by exuding piscidic acid anions that chelated Fe3+ and subsequently released P2O5 from FePO4 (Ae et al.,, 1990). In a field trial, faba bean facilitated P2O5 uptake by maize (Z hang et al.,, 2001; Li et al.,, 1999, 2003b; Zhang and Li, 2003). In another comparative study, the ability of chickpea to mobilise organic P2O5 was shown to be greater than that of maize due to greater exudation of protons and organic acids by chickpea in relation to maize (Li et al.,, 2004a). Thus, in mixed cultures, plants such as cereals, which do not have strong rhizosphere acidification capacity can benefit directly from nutrients solubilised by legume root exudates. What is, however, not clearly known is the extent of rhizosphere pH changes in mixed cultures involving nodulated legumes and cereals and their influence on other biological and chemical processes in the soil. N2 FIXATION IN LEGUMES AND THE ASSOCIATED BENEFITS TO THE CEREAL COMPONENT Biological nitrogen fixation by grain legume crops has received a lot of attention (Eaglesham et al.,, 1981; Giller et al.,, 1991; Izaurralde et al.,, 1992; Giller and Cadisch, 1995; Peoples et al.,, 2002) because it is a considerable N source in agricultural ecosystems (Heichel, 1987; Dakora and Keya, 1997). However, studies on N2 fixation in complex cereal-legume mixtures are few (Stern, 1993; Peoples et al.,, 2002). Intercropping usually includes a legume which fixes N2 that benefits the system, and a cereal component that depends heavily on nitrogen for higher yield (Ofori and Stern, 1986; Cochran and Schlentner, 1995). Controlled studies have shown a significant direct transfer of fixed-N to the associated non-legume species (Eaglesham et al.,, 1981; Giller et al.,, 1991; Frey and Schà ¼epp, 1993; Stern, 1993; Elgersma et al.,, 2000; Hà ¸gh-Jensen and Schjoerring, 2000; Chu et al.,, 2004). There was evidence that the mineralisation of decomposing legume roots in the soil can b oost N availability to the allied crop (Dubach and Russelle, 1994; Schroth et al.,, 1995; Evans et al.,, 2001). In mixed cultures, where row arrangements and the distance of the legume from the cereal are far, nitrogen transfer could decrease. Research has shown that competition between cereals and legumes for nitrogen may in turn kindle N2 fixation activity in the legumes (Fujita et al.,, 1990; Hardarson and Atkins, 2003). The cereal component effectively drains the soil of N, forcing the legume to fix more N2. Therefore it is important to manipulate and establish how the management practice in legume-cereal mixtures may influence N2 fixation and nutrition in cropping systems. The microbial biomass is influenced by biological, chemical, and physical properties of the plant-soil system. Generally, soil and plant management practices may have greater impact on the level of soil microbial C (Gupta and Germida, 1988; Dick et al.,, 1994; Dick, 1997; Alvey et al.,, 2003). For instance, soil microbial C tend to show the highest values in cropland and grassland soils and the lowest in bare cultivated soils (Brookes et al.,, 1984; Gupta and Germida, 1988).Monoculture systems are expected to contain less amounts of microbial biomass and activities in comparison to those in mixed cultures (Moore et al.,, 2000). Studies have indicated that legumes accumulated larger amounts of soil microbial C in the soil than cereals (Walker et al.,, 2003). This is attributed to lower C : N ratio of legume than that of cereal (Uriyo et al.,, 1979; Brady, 1990). Microbial biomass activities could increase after the addition of an energy source. The stimulation of soil microbial biomas s activity by organic amendments is elevated than that induced by organic fertilisers (Bolton et al.,, 1985; Goyal et al.,, 1993; Hà ¶flich et al.,, 2000). Soil organic matter content and soil microbial activities, vital for the nutrient turnover and long term productivity of soil, are enhanced by the balanced application of nutrient and/or organic matter/manure (Bolton et al.,, 1985; Guan, 1989; Goyal et al.,, 1993; Hà ¶flich et al.,, 2000; Kanchikerimath and Singh, 2001). Under conditions of adequate nutrient supply such as P2O5, the microbial biomass C will be increased due to improved plant growth and increased turnover of organic matter in the soil (Bolton et al.,, 1985). Whether the management practices in mixed cultures involving legumes and cereals may favour the stimulation of biological soil activity and, thus, result in a higher turnover of organic substrates in the soil that are utilized by micro-organisms is a good subject to be investigated. Although there is a lot o f information that show the relationship between soil management and soil microbial activity, little is known about these effects under mixed cropping systems as practised by farmers in the tropical/ subtropical environments (Dick, 1984; Dick et al.,, 1988; Deng and Tabatabai, 1996). In this context, the measurement of their activities could provide useful information concerning soil health, and also serve as a good index of biological status in different crop production systems. PHOSPHATASE ACTIVITY IN LEGUME/CEREAL MIXTURES Plants have evolved many morphological and enzymatic adaptations to bear low phosphate availability. This includes transcription activity of acid phosphatases, which tends to increase under P2O5 starvation (Tarafdar and Jungk, 1987; Goldstein, 1992; Duff et al.,, 1994; del Pozo et al.,, 1999; Haran et al.,, 2000; Baldwin et al.,, 2001; Miller et al.,, 2001; Li et al.,, 2002). Phosphatase enzymes in the soil serve several important functions, and are good indicators of soil fertility (Dick and Tabatai, 1992; Eivazi and Tabatabai, 1997; Dick et al.,, 2000). Under conditions of P2O5 deficiency, acid phosphatase secreted from roots is greater than before (Nakas et al.,, 1987; Chrost, 1991;Hayes et al.,, 1999; Li et al.,, 1997). Gilbert et al., (1999) found that white lupin roots from P-deficient plants had significantly superior acid phosphatase activity in both the root extracts and the root exudates than comparable samples from P-sufficient plants. At various starvation levels, these e nzymes release phosphate from both cellular (Bariola et al.,, 1994) and extra cellular (Duff et al.,, Ndakidemi 2529 1994) organic compounds. The transcripts and activity of phosphate transporters are increased to optimise uptake and remobilisation of phosphate in P-deficient plants (Muchhal et al.,, 1996; Daram et al.,, 1999; Kai et al.,, 2002; Karthikeyan et al.,, 2002; Mudge et al.,, 2002; Versaw and Harrison, 2002). It is thought that these morphological and enzymatic responses to P starvation are coordinated by both general stress-related and P-specific signaling systems. The amount of acid phosphatase secreted by plants is genetically controlled, and differs with crop species and varieties (Izaguirre-Mayoral and Carballo, 2002) as well as crop management practices (Patra et al.,, 1990; Staddon et al.,, 1998; Wright and Reddy, 2001). Some studies have shown that the amount of enzymes secreted by legumes were 72 % higher than those from cereals (Yadav and Tarafdar, 2001). Li et al., (2004a) found that, chickpea roots were also able to secrete greater amounts of acid phosphatase than maize. The activity of acid phosphatases is expected to be higher in biologically managed systems because of higher quantity of organic C content found in those systems. In fact, the activity of acid and alkaline phosphatase was found to correlate with organic matter in various studies (Guan, 1989; Jordan and Kremer, 1994; Aon and Colaneri, 2001). It is, therefore, anticipated that management practices in mixed cultures that induce P stress in the rhizosphere, may also affect the secretion of these enzymes. To date, there have been few studies examining the influence of cropping system on the phosphatase activity in the rhizosphere of most legumes and cereals grown in Pakistan. Understanding the dynamics of enzyme activities in these systems is crucial for their assessment their interactions as in turn their activities may regulate nutrient uptake and plant growth in the ecosystem. EFFECT OF ORGANIC, BIOLOGICAL ANDCHEIMCAL FERTLIZERS ON CROPS AND SOIL Application of organic manures has various advantages such as increasing soil physical properties, water holding capacity, and organic carbon content apart from supplying good quality of nutrients. The addition of organic sources could increase the yield through improving soil productivity and higher fertilizer use efficiency (Santhi, and Selvakumari, 2000). High and sustained yield could be obtained with judicious and balanced fertilization combined with organic manures (Kang, B.T. and V. Balasubramanian, 1990). Protecting long-term soil fertility by maintaining soil organic matter levels to certain extent, sustaining soil biological activity and careful mechanical intervention, providing crop nutrient directly by using relatively insoluble nutrient sources which are made available to the plants by the action of soil micro-organisms, nitrogen self sufficiency through the biological nitrogen fixation (Hossain et al.,,2004) as well as effective recycling of organic materials including livestock wastes organic manuring (Safdar, 2002).Soil degradation which is brought about by loss of organic matter accompanying continuous cropping becomes aggravated when inorganic fertilizers are applied repeatedly. This is because crop response to applied fertilizer depends on soil organic matter (Agboola and Omueti, 1982). Among differnret manues poultry manure is highly nutrient enriched organic manure since solid and liquid excreta are excreted simultaneously resulting in no urine loss. In fresh poultry excreta uric acid or urate is the most plentiful nitrogen compound (40-70 % of total N) while urea and ammonium are present in petite amounts (Krogdahl, and Dahlsgard. 1981). Cooperband et al., (2002) assessed phosphorus value of different- age poultry litter composts and raw poultry litter. Available soil P was the highest in plots amended with 15-month old compost, followed by raw poultry litter amended plots. Poultry manure is an excellent organic fertilizer, as it contains high nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and other essential nutrients. In contrast to mineral fertilizer, it adds organic matter to soil which improves soil structures, nutrient retention, aeration, soil moisture holding capacity, and water infiltration (Deksissa et al.,, 2008). It was also indicated that poultry manure more readil y supplies P to plants than other organic manure sources (Garg and Bahla, 2008). As the use of poultry manure becomes an integral part of sustainable agriculture, demand for poultry products increases and pasturelands as well as croplands become nutrient saturated, which has ultimately increased water quality and public health concerns. In addition to high N and P content, raw poultry manure has a potential source of pathogen or E .coli (Jamieson et al.,, 2002; Bustamante et al.,, 2007) and endocrine disruptors (Deksissa et al.,, 2007). High and sustained crop yield can be obtained with judicious and balanced NPK fertilization combined with organic matter amendment (Kang and Balasubramanian, 1990).The benefits

Abortion Is Wrong Essay -- Pro-Life, Argumentative Essay

Each person has their own view concerning abortion, but the majority of people have little knowledge about abortion. Abortion in teens is increasing every year, since morality concerns no longer seem to carry much weight with teens. There are many medical hazards associated with an abortion procedure. Americans feel that it is only the mother's choice whether or not to abort the fetus. The legalization of abortions occurred in 1973 after the Roe v. Wade case was won by Roe1 . Norma McCorrey, ?Jane Roe,? claimed to have been raped and filed a lawsuit against Dallas County District Attorney, Henry Wade, for not allowing Roe to get the abortion that she wanted (Radl 46). When the case went to trial on January 22, 1973 a seven to three vote allowed Roe to proceed with the abortion ( 46). Later, after the verdict, Roe stated that she was never raped and only wanted an abortion for her own convenience. On January 11,1973 Doe v. Bolton and Roe v. Wade cases ultimately stated, ?that an abortion, even when the unborn is seven, eight, or nine months old (after conception), can be performed for virtually any reason, including the mother?s emotional stress caused by her pregnancy as long as it is done by licensed physician,? (Beckwith and Geisler 49). Before 1973 the American Law Institute (ALI) held three conditions for legal abortions; rape or incest, fetus would be deformed, and women?s mental or physical health was in great danger (Radl 33). Webster?s Dictionary defines execution as, ?to put to death in accordance with a legally impose sentence,? which murder is defined as, ?to kill a person unlawfully with a malice,? (Bender and Leone 34). When people ignorantly say that abortion is murder that is an untrue statement because abortion is execution. No matter what people refer abortion to it as it is still killing a living human fetus. In Roe?s case the Supreme Court was blind to all aspects or moral limitations. About one million illegal abortions were performed in the United States in 1972 (174). The number of illegal abortion has increased to twelve million abortions a year. One woman changed history forever after a simple lie that she told just to save herself from having an unplanned child. If the law of 1959 still existed today with mandatory court cases for each abortion situation the teenagers and the women who do not desire ... ...ress, 1993. Molk, Yuda. Common Sense About Abortion: The Issue Dividing America. Washington D.C.: Common Sense Press, 1992. Mrela, Christopher K., Ph.D, Assistant Registrar of Vital Statistics. Abortion Surveillance Report: Arizona, 1984-1994. Phoenix: Arizona Department of Health Services, Public Health Services, Office of Health Planning, Evaluation and Statistics, Arizona Center for Health Statistics, 1995. Nathanson, Bernard N., M.D. The Hand of God:A Journey from Death to Life be the Abortion Doctor Who Changed His Mind. Washington D.C.: Regnery Publishing, Inc., 1996. Pollitt, Katha. ?Abortion in American History.? The Atlantic Monthly May 1997: 111-115. Radl, Shirley L. Over our Living Bodies; Preserving Choice in America. Dallas: Steve Davis Publishing, 1989. Reardon, David C. Aborted Women, Silent No More. Chicago: Loyola University Press, 1987. Roleff, Tamara L., ed. Abortion: Opposing Viewpoints. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, Inc., 1997. Simon, Stephanie. ?Rural Doctors Weigh RU-486.? Los Angeles Times 26 Nov. 2000: A12. The Holy Bible: King James Version. Salt Lake City: The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-Day Saints, 1989.

Audience engagement in King Oedipus Essay -- essays research papers

Sophocles, writing King Oedipus faced an unusual problem. He needed to find ways to engage an audience that has pre-knowledge of the plot and characters. He successfully does this to a high degree by using several techniques such as, irony, climax and anti-climaxes, plot and character twists, lack of resolution and foreshadowing. The most effective feature utilized by Sophocles is irony because it builds tension, keeps the audience alert and has the effect of black comedy. The most common kind of irony is spoken irony which occurs in most dialogues. Oedipus bans himself in the beginning ?His fate will be nothing worse Than banishment? (Sophocles 31) which is ironic. This example has both a tension building effect and an amusing effect on the audience, which further engages them. When Oedipus is talking to his real mother, Jocasta he says ?still to fear?my mother (Sophocles 52) it has an amusing effect on the audience. The overuse of irony is very effective because Sophocles is constantly recycling it, which gives a more humorous and irritating aspect to the play. Dramatic irony is used commonly throughout the play: sometimes obviously, sometimes it is more subtle. By using it so often it makes the audience think about the subtleties moments and how they could be ironic, which is a very clever way to keep their attention. When Jocasta figures out that she is in fact Oedipus?s mother, she tries to stop him from finding out, and ironically, Oedipus gets offended and more motivated to figure out the truth, as he believes that she thinks he is the offspring of slaves. This example builds tension because it gives a guarantee that he won?t give up until he figures out the truth. ?Oedipus whose name is afar? says this in the beginnin... ...the interesting part is ?your death?, suggests that he will actually die but he himself already made it impossible for anyone to kill him legally. This could foreshadow a relatively close death soon after the play ends. The foreshadowing also has the affect of making the audience to think and make them more alert. By using all these techniques together Sophocles successfully engages the audience throughout the play. The features attracts the modern audience by black comedy, making them use their imagination, relate to the characters by irritating them, the play keeps the audience alert to notice techniques, and makes them tense and relax over and over again. The fact that most important events occur off-stage forces them to imagine which gives a greater impression then of the actors trying to act it. It also gives a more individual interpretation of the play.

Foreign Language Learning and Inclusion Essay

In her article, Foreign Language Learning and Inclusion: Who? Why? What? And How? , Hilary McColl presents some interesting arguments about both the usefulness and the practicality of enacting a full foreign language program for students with disabilities. The article is interesting in many respects, but mainly because of the fact that it addresses so many pertinent issues. It takes the time to not only study the basics on foreign language learning in these young people, but it also digs deeply into the reasons why such learning should take place in all schools. The article’s main purpose is to provide a thought provoking laundry list of reasons why foreign language learning is so important to the development of a well-educated society, despite some of the concerns that might convince people otherwise. As the title of the article suggest, McColl takes the time to answer some of the important basic questions about foreign language learning and the inclusion of certain students. The question of who is important in this essay because it is a basic tenet of inclusion. She is very clear that the group of children she is worried about are those who have been deemed â€Å"special† by the system. They are the kids with learning disabilities. They are important to this debate because there is rampant speculation that these children do not have the capacity to learn a foreign language and even if they did, it would not be nearly as important to them as learning some of the other skills out that they might be presented with. She argues against the notion that these students would be better off without having to learn a foreign language and presents compelling evidence to the contrary. She wastes no time in identifying these students as the ones that she is primarily concerned with for the purposes of this study, though. The article also deals with the issue of why. It is not enough to simply say that a certain group of students must be included in the foreign language teaching. She goes the next step to showing why they must be included in this learning. The purpose of her study was to show that having these children learn a foreign language was not only beneficial to them in their development, but it was also beneficial to society as a whole. As a general rule, the more that students learn about another country and its languages or cultures, the more likely they will be to make good multi-cultural decisions. Since a society full of people who understand and respect other cultures is absolutely essential to economic and global prosperity, it is in the country’s best interests to include all of its students in any sort of foreign language program. She is adamant about this fact as it is the one basic tenet of her entire argument. It is also very important to note that she provides a detailed case analysis showing the fact that these students actually have the capacity to learn these types of things. This is incredibly important to the overall body of her work. While her ideas and thoughts are important enough on their own, they can be taken even more seriously when one considers them alongside some solid evidence. This is why her article has gained such recognition, because she has done the research to back up her claims that children with disabilities still have the capacity to gain and grow from the experience of learning a foreign language. With the important question of why out of the way, the study itself takes a distinct turn to being much more pragmatic. The first part of this article deals with the ideals behind why all students should be included in this type of learning program. The second part is much more about implementation and what must be done. Her discussion of curriculum development is particular intriguing, as she breaks down not only some of the solutions for this learning gap, but she also details what a few of the potential roadblocks could be. Since McColl has extensive experience working with these children and she knows well what their strengths and weaknesses are, she can provide a detailed analysis of what needs to be done in order to make this happen. This is yet another example where her research has helped to make her arguments more compelling. The how in her article is simply an extension of the implementation plan. She is detailed in how she provides a step-by-step look at home such a program could be constructed. From the staff construction to the perfect implementation of a targeted curriculum, her entire article is based upon a problem and a very definite solution. She brings up some interesting strategies and ideas that ultimately must be considered because of their validity and the level of research done in her work. All in all, the article itself is an in-depth analysis of what the author feels is a growing social problem with the education system in the United States. Not only are students not getting the growth that they need when they are excluded from foreign language programs, but the nation as a whole suffers as a result. It is well worded, but above that, it is a well supported argument that has excellent ideology to go along with some excellent research.

Moral And Ethical Considerations Health And Social Care Essay

The end of utilizing automatons in medical specialty is to supply improved diagnostic capablenesss, a less aggressive and a more comfy experience for the patient, and the ability to make smaller and more accurate intercessions. A Automatons are presently used for prostate surgery, hysterectomies, the remotion of fibroids, joint replacings, open-heart surgery and kidney surgeries. They can be used along with MRIs to supply organ biopsies. While the physician can see images of the patient and command the automaton through a computing machine, he does non necessitate to be in the room, or even at the same location as the patient. A This means that a physician can run on a patient who is far off without either of them holding to go. It besides provides a better work atmosphere by cut downing strain and weariness. Surgeries that last for hours can do even the best sawboness to see manus failing and shudders, while automatons are more stable and drum sander. Dr. D'Ovidio has extended experience in thoracic and esophageal malignant neoplastic disease, reflux and achalasia instances. Embracing the most advanced engineering, he has been trained to execute robotic thoracic surgery. Although you might visualise bantam small automatons repairing jobs inside your organic structure, Dr. D'Ovidio explains it ‘s â€Å" non like a automaton is making surgery and I ‘m holding java in a saloon. † ( hypertext transfer protocol: //www.columbiasurgery.net/tag/robotic-surgery/ ) The sawbones sits at a console to run a mechanical arm that has tools loaded on to it. In add-on to the fact that the sawbones can sit at easiness, another advantage is alleviating the weariness of holding to keep instruments for an drawn-out period of clip. The automatons use well greater optics to present 3-dimensional vision. In truth, robotic surgery is 3D. It has two â€Å" eyes † alternatively of merely 1. This gives a much better position. Besides, the automatons have articulations that articulate the tool in all waies. For illustration, like holding an arm with a carpus, as opposed to a laparoscope, where the arm is stiff with no wrist motion. â€Å" Although it ‘s fundamentally the same process as unfastened or laparoscopic surgery, you have much more refined action, † Dr. D'Ovidio says, â€Å" and achieve greater preciseness, less mistake, and less possible hemorrhage. That ‘s a benefit to the patient. † ( hypertext transfer protocol: //www.columbiasurgery.net/tag/robotic-surgery ) Marjorie Paulson, 75, lives in Long Island. Mrs. Paulson was thrilled to larn about Dr. D'Ovidio ‘s automaton and flew into the metropolis for surgery on February 28, 2012. Her process was a great campaigner for the robotic attack. Equally good as her hiatal hernia fix, due to the presence of esophageal shortening, Mrs. Paulson required a Collis gastroplasty to widen the gorge and easiness tenseness on the anti-reflux Nissen fundoplication process. She went home the following twenty-four hours, has had no hurting or any other symptoms, and feels superb. The district attorney Vinci surgical system is a somewhat invasive new attack that uses cutting edge robotic engineering. The district attorney Vinci Surgical System takes gynaecological surgery to new statures by leting highly precise motions, legerity and control through minimum surgical gaps and strong 3D vision and magnification. Marginally aggressive roboticA prostatectomy and roboticA hysterectomy intervention options now offer the potency for first-class post-operative map and malignant neoplastic disease direction results.A Quickly going the global intervention pick for prostate state of affairss, the district attorney Vinci Robot is besides puting a new benchmark with the district attorney Vinci hysterectomy, for the broad scope of uterine conditions that need surgery. This criterion is accredited to the improved benefits of truth and magnification at the operative site, every bit good as a shorter timeline for recovery, decreased hurting, fewer troubles, reduced scarring an d lower hazard of infection. With the sawbones steering robotic weaponries from a sing console some pess off from the patient. As an option to doing a big scratch, the automaton ‘s tools and camera are inserted through four little holes in the patient ‘s thorax. The automaton used in the patterns, the Intuitive Surgical district attorney Vinci System, has Food and Drug Administration consent for a figure of clinical tests in bosom surgery. Initial consequences show that on norm, patients stayed in the infirmary two to four yearss less and returned to work 50 per centum quicker than those holding the unfastened process. The district attorney Vinci Surgical System, made by Intuitive Surgical, Inc. of Sunnyvale, Calif. , is freed to execute surgery under the counsel of a sawbones. As of May 2012, more than 1,840 da Vinci Systems are installed in over 1,450 infirmaries worldwide. ( hypertext transfer protocol: //allaboutroboticsurgery.com/surgicalrobots.html ) The district attorney Vinci Si double console besides permits sawboness from different Fieldss to work together on the same patient. For illustration, a patient undergoing gynaecological and urological processs can be robotically operated on at similar times, allowing both sawboness to work together and decreasing the hazards of jobs for the patient. The most apparent advantage of the double console is the capacity to develop new robotics sawboness. Alternatively of the mentoring sawbones and mentoree swapping topographic points back and Forth throughout the surgery, both can now work in tandem. The productiveness of holding two sawboness working at the same clip could easy accelerate the acquisition curve as both sawboness are seeing the same anatomy and sharing the same tools, merely like the larning procedure in unfastened surgery. The accelerated acquisition curve for the sawboness means a batch more instances can be done, allowing even more patients to gain from robotics surgery. Hospital corsets can be decreased by about half, cut downing infirmary cost by about 33 % . These fewer yearss in the intensive attention unit are a consequence of less hurting and quicker recovery. ( hypertext transfer protocol: //allaboutroboticsurgery.com/surgicalrobots.html ) Though the size of the mechanism is still non little plenty for bosom processs in kids, the minimally aggressive nature of district attorney Vinci does non go forth a big surgical cicatrix and still has some limited applications in kids for the clip being. Furthermore, harmonizing to Intuitive Surgical, merely 80,000 out of 230,000 new instances of prostate malignant neoplastic disease undergo surgery because of the high hazard invasive surgery carries, connoting that more people may undergo surgery with this germinating engineering. ( hypertext transfer protocol: //allaboutroboticsurgery.com/surgicalrobots.html ) The chief disadvantages to this engineering are the steep acquisition curve and high cost of th e device. Though Intuitive Surgical provides a preparation plan, it took sawboness about 12-18 patients before they felt secure executing the technique. The big floor-mounted patient-side cart confines the helper sawbones ‘s attack to the patient. Though, there are besides many who are unable to entree the district attorney Vinci based on the steep monetary value. In a paper published by The American Journal of Surgery, 75 % of sawboness claimed that they felt financially limited by any system that cost more than $ 500,000. As of now, surgery with the district attorney Vinci Surgical System takes 40-50 proceedingss longer, but the FDA considered this a learning curve variable and expects clip to better with more usage of the system. ( hypertext transfer protocol: //allaboutroboticsurgery.com/surgicalrobots.html ) Acrobot Precision Surgical Systems mission is bettering the velocity, truth and duplicability of joint replacing, guaranting maximal benefit for the sawbones and the patient Acrobot provides preciseness surgical systems for computer-assisted 3D planning, surgical pilotage and surgeon-controlled robotic surgery. ( hypertext transfer protocol: //allaboutroboticsurgery.com/surgicalrobots.html ) In order to better clinical results, addendum sawbones accomplishments, enable bone preservation and increase productiveness. When joint replacing cogwheels are implanted exactly and successfully, the patient ‘s post-operative recovery clip can be cut and hurting and troubles can be minimized, which should so take to improved quality of life for the patient. With the enlargement of accoutrement engineerings, such as visual image systems, retractors, and stabilizers, every bit good as other methods of vascular canulation and cardiorespiratory beltway ( CPB ) , such as peripheral CPB and endoaortic balloon engineering, many past restrictions have been conquered. Many physicians have shown promising consequences utilizing a mini-sternotomy, parasternal scratch, and mini-thoracotomy for complex cardiac processs, including coronary arteria beltway grafting ( CABG ) , mitral and aortal valve surgery, and atrial septal defect ( ASD ) closing. ( hypertext transfer protocol: //ats.ctsnetjournals.org/cgi/content/full/77/4/1328 ) The following measure has been the creative activity of thoracoscopic surgery utilizing computerized telemicromanipulation. Using a surgical robotic system, sawboness can work little endoscopic instruments, which are put in through ports one centimetre in size, recognizing many of the proficient operations merely anteceden tly possible with unfastened surgery. Supporters of minimally aggressive techniques have assumed that by diminishing the scratch size and entire operative injury, it may be possible to diminish postoperative hurting and better quality of life, rendering into a rapid recovery and the ability to go on preoperative activities, such as work. While several surveies of robotically supported cardiac surgery have reported hurts and deceases, merely one survey has addressed hurting and quality of life, comparing patients who underwent larboard entree techniques with patients who underwent a sternotomy. Supporters of robotic engineering for atrial septate defect closing have stated, based on subjective experience, that postoperative hurting is reduced and quality of life is improved in patients undergoing surgery with robotic techniques as opposed to conservative attacks, such as a sternotomy or thoracotomy. Robotically aided thoracoscopic atrial septate defect fix resulted in first-class quality of life after 30 yearss. Quality of life result steps were significantly superior in the robotic group as compared to patients who underwent surgery utilizing nonthoracoscopic techniques, such as sternotomy and mini-thoracotomy. ( http: //onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1471-0528.2008.02038.x/full ) A robotic attack prevents the injury of a sternotomy or thoracotomy, which is an of import concern to many patients. Patients who endured a robotic attack returned to work earlier than patients who endured a mini-thoracotomy or sternotomy. Along with better-quality patient attention, another end of doing medical robotics conventional is to cut down on medical costs. But, this is non ever the instance. Some robotic surgery systems cost more than $ 1 million to get and $ 100,000 a twelvemonth or more to keep. A This means that infirmaries need to measure the cost of the machine vs. the cost of conventional attention. If robotic surgery cuts down on the hurting and healing clip, so money is saved because the figure of yearss the patient stays in the infirmary is reduced. There is besides a decrease in the sum of employees needed in the operating room during surgery. In contrast, monolithic preparation clip is required for physicians to larn to plan and command the machines. Another fright is that there are really few shapers of medical robotics. With small competition, the few shapers that exist can put their ain monetary values. Medical robotics are still new, and there is much more work to be done. And expensive, which can do it unaffordable for many infirmaries and health-care centres. A There are besides still issues with inaction. This means the clip oversight between the blink of an eyes when the physician shifts the controls and when the automaton responds. Plus, there is still a hazard for human mistake if the physician falsely plans the automaton before surgery. Computer plans can non modify their class during surgery, while a human sawbones can do needful corrections. As sawboness become more acquainted with utilizing automatons for surgery, and as more companies provide medical automatons, thereA will come a twenty-four hours when automatons are used in about every infirmary. Yet, this is still far off in the hereafter. One of the defects of most robotic surgical systems today is the absence of the esthesis of touch for the sawbones. Execution of tactile feedback into robotic surgical systems can transform the physician ‘s user experience by leting designation of altered tissue constructions, forestalling tissue harm, sing right sutura arrangement and dwindling undertaking completion clip. The increasing trouble of recent surgical engineering will necessitate more rigorous guidelines for concern and pattern similar to the subject used in air power. Using a surgical automaton suggests that the sawbones is no longer in direct physical or ocular contact with the patient. The sawbones non merely operates through computing machine bids but there is besides a significant distance to the helpers go toing the operation tabular array. Unfortunately, the current systems lack an acceptable manner to pass on between the operator and the helpers. As with many new technological developments, communicating might look to be the Achilles ‘ heel of robotic surgery. More suited equipment of communicating and more steadfast subject in followup of the orders from the primary responsible individual, the sawbones, will be critical for a safe and successful process. Telemedicine makes cross-border intervention possible. Cross-border attention should non alter the usual medical moralss but makes intervention likely of patients in countries the physician can non make in individual. Under served parts and states could be assisted. But the engineering could besides rise the resettlement of physicians from hapless to rich countries and states. Besides, the security of the transmitted information between the sawbones and the distant automaton is at interest. That informations should be treated the same manner as written medical records. Mistakes of the robotic system will go on more often with the increasing usage of the machine. Fortunately, it appeared that less than five per centum of device mistakes lead to patient troubles. Additionally, the sum of unfastened alterations due to malfunctions decreased from 94 % in 2003 to 16 % in 2007. ( http: //onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1471-0528.2008.02038.x/full ) Even though automatons seem to move freely, all of their motions and actions are controlled by the sawbones and as such do non differ from any other surgical equipment. Still, as with any complicated system, safety safeguards will be more important than with the usage of simple instruments. Local every bit good as national and international guidelines will necessitate to be established to turn to specific issues. In 2007, the first policy guidelines for the robot-assisted prostatectomy were suggested in an column by Valvo et Al. ( http: //onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1471-0528.2008.02038.x/full ) The Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons and the Minimally Invasive Robotic Association thought that guidelines for the usage of robotics were missing. To get the better of this spread, they issued a consensus statement on robotic surgery including guidelines for preparation and credentialing. The World Medical Association ( WMA ) made a statement on the moralss of telemedicine on their last meeting in Copenhagen. Included are codifications for the patient-physician relationship and confidentiality, the duties of the doctor and the quality of attention. The World Medical Association is assuring the development of national statute law and international understandings on telemedicine. Robotic surgery is besides known as cyber surgery. The elaborateness of judicial proceeding associated with robotic surgery is complex. In add-on to being able to action doctors and infirmaries, patients who endure an unpleasant result after robotic surgery will hold the possible to action the robotic maker and the telecommunications company. Nevertheless, robotic surgery judicial proceeding will affect Torahs that are by and large unaccustomed to healthcare suppliers. There are non excessively many instances on robotic surgery malpractice, a batch of the instances have been hard to turn out whether it was the sawbones or the mistake of the shapers that made the automaton. Over the following few old ages, robotic or distant surgery will be in pattern on a broader graduated table and cases will finally follow.

Women in Swimming Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Women in Swimming - Essay Example o are ugly will feel jealous; the press photographers will do their professional duty, clicking pictures from different angles and with different viewpoints. The winner swimmer will attain international fame, and become overnight a sex symbol as well. Physical beauty and swimming ability are an awesome combination. One has the potential to become a crossover world star overnight. One may be the cover-page girl and the editors are sure to select the most provocative pose amongst the dozens of photographs their lens man has been able to get. Commercialization has crept in and the female swimmer is posed in a sexualized manner. She may do it willingly or the cameraman might have clicked her in that position. A female swimmer’s achievement in sports lasts for the duration of the performance but her sexy poses are cashable and marketable for many years. The athletic performance takes the back seat as compared to her sexy poses. Top swimming stars do would not like to miss the opportunities for making a fortune. In real terms, prize-money accrued out of a bunch of gold medals is kindergarten stuff as compared to the massive returns an attractive pose in the swimsuit may fetch for a top athlete. Sport sells but sex sells better! Yes, those poses looking at which the viewer roll their eyes and sigh in exasperation. Whether it is right or wrong from the sociological point of view, female swimmers are presented by both the print and electronic media, by highlighting their physical assets. The articles also emphasize the swimmer’s sexuality and the photographs are mostly to highlight their sexual features. When they get contracts as models by the multinational giants, the advertising people make their figure more glamorous by lighting and make-up. Her swimming talents take the backseat for a while. Her breathtaking and flawless skin and endless legs are given prominence. Her ripping muscles are made to look more attractive. And sky is the limit for the imagination of

Health effects of air pollution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Health effects of air pollution - Essay Example Inhalation of air pollutants causes distress to the respiratory system, which lead to development of chronic respiratory infections, and aggravation of ailments affecting the system. The air pollutants cause respiratory problems in various ways including blocking the air pathways after being deposited in the lungs, irritation and inflammation of the respiratory tract resulting to production of mucus and coughing. These effects increase the vulnerability of the affected person to developing infections of the respiratory system. Numerous medical research studies on the effect of air pollution on children indicate that their health is more prone to the emissions than adults are (WHO, 2005). Polluted air causes adverse effects to the growth and development of both unborn and born children. Several factors contribute to the increased vulnerability of children’s health to air pollution. These include the continuing growth and development process of the lungs, incomplete metabolic systems and undeveloped immune systems that makes them susceptible to respiratory infections (WHO, 2005). These factors could lead to higher exposure of the children to air pollutants and increase the toxicity of the substances once they enter into the respiratory system. According to WHO (2005, p18) the effectiveness of the detoxification system in children improves with time, during prenatal and postnatal period. Hence, children at prenatal stage are most susceptible to air pollution because the lungs and the respiratory syste m are at critical stage of growth and development. When the developing lungs are exposed to air pollution, their optimal functional ability reduces and the abnormality continues to adulthood, causing reduced functional reserve of the lungs (WHO, 2005). Reduced functional reserve in adulthood increases the vulnerability of infections due to ageing and exposure to other pollutants, such as smoking and work related exposures (WHO, 2005,