Wind and Water

1. They affects the dispersion of organism. They also affects the distribution of fruits, seeds and spores.

2. Wind increase evapotranspiration thereby decreasing moisture. Hence, windy habitats are usually inhabited by xerophytes.

3. Strong water currents causes erosion that would then determine the type of species that line the riverbanks.

4. Plankton and algae species are also found in small amounts in fast flowing waters. In the beaches, waves and beach sand prevent plants from inhabiting there.

Important Concepts of Ecology

1. Ecology: study of interactions between organisms and organisms with their environments

 

2. Biosphere (Ecosphere): all parts of planet Earth inhabited by living organisms. It stretches from the bottom of the ocean  to the upper atmosphere = all the communities and ecosystems in planet Earth

 

3. Biotic components: living components in the ecosystem, such as plants, animals, humans and microorganisms

 

4. Abiotic components: non-living components of the ecosystem such as water, soil, air, rocks, snow and others.

 

5. Environment: surrounding of an organism including all biotic and abiotic components. The environment of an  organism usually includes water, air, soil and living things.

 

6. Habitat: specific area(place) of the physical environment where an organism lives. Example: Forest as habitat of monkeys, Meadow as habitat of deers.

 

7. Microhabitat: particular place in the habitat where and organism lives. Microhabitat can be an area under a rock, for ants.

 

8. Community: all organisms living in the same habitat. Mangrove swamp community consists of mangrove trees, birds, crabs, monkeys, snakes, microorganisms...etc.

 

9. Biome: large community unit that extends over wide biogeographical area, determined by area. Hence, biome can be said as a climatically delineated assemblage of organisms that have a characteristic appearance and is distribute over a wide geographical area. This community is usually complex and its animals and plants have certain characteristics. Example: Terrestrial biome are tropical forest, Mediterranean forest, deciduous forests, savanna, tundra, desert and prairie. Ocean is a single biome.

 

10. Bion: independant individual organism living in any ecological system.

Local University Outcome

For STPM 2007 candidates who had applied for the local university, you can now check it using Internet though the www.mohe.gov.my portal. Just key in your IC number, category and Angka Giliran and you will know what you have been waiting for for these six months. Another way is using SMS. Just type UPU<space>IC number to 33310 or 32020, then you will know the result.

Cardiovascular Disease

Hypertension

Meaning:

1. Hypertension is also known as high blood pressure.

2. It is defined as systemic arterial blood pressure which constantly remains at a high level (above 140/90 mmHg).

3. Through survey, 30% of Malaysians suffer from hypertension.

4. Secondary hypertension is hypertension caused by other disease. 5% of Malaysian suffer from secondary hypertension.

5. Primary hypertension is caused by process not fully understood or fully known. It covers 90% of Malaysian hypertension patients.

Causes:

Primary Hypertension

1. Arteriosclerosis

2. Genetic factors

3. Excessive intake of salt and cholesterol

4. Obesity

5. Smoking

6. Tension and stress

7. Sedentary lifestyle, lack of exercise

8. Alcohol consumption

9. Use of contraceptive pills

* Note that the actual cause is still unknown. These are mostly believed causes.

Symptoms:

1. Dizziness (esp. morning)

2. Buzzing sound in the ears

3. Bleeding nose

4. Blur vision

5. Flushes in the face

6. Frequent urinating (incontinence)

7. Difficulty in breathing

8. Swelling feet

Effects:

1. Heart

2. Kidney

3. Brain

Prevention:

1. Exercise

2. Lose Weight

3. Reduction of tension in life

4. Reduction of salt and cholesterol intake

5. Stay away from cigarettes and alcohol

 

Arteriosclerosis

Meaning:

 

Causes:

1. Genetic factory

2. Diet

3. Smoking

4. Stress

5. Sedentary lifestyle

6. Alcohol consumption

7. Age

8. Gender

9. Other disease

Prevention:

 

 

Myocardial Infarction

Meaning:

 

Causes:

1. Diet/nutrition

2. Stress

3. Genetic

4. Body weight

5. Age

6. Smoking

7. Gender

8. Other diseases

Prevention:

1. Exercise

2. Consume healthy food (low cholesterol, salt and saturated fat)

3. Don't/reduce smoking

4. Relax and stress-free lifestyle

5. Seek medical help once unhealthy symptoms surfaces

Les Choristes With English Subtitles

It's so happy to find this one. Finally I found the whole Les Choristes movie in Google Video which have English suntitles. You will learn much through this one!