Depletion and consequences of mangrove forests

Depletion and consequences of mangrove forests Executive summary Globally, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is recognized to have one of the largest mangrove forest covers in the world, protecting the lands from the viciousness of the open sea, and maintaining its productivity. In an agricultural based economy, a buffer against the sea is all the more important. Given the last few decades, the country has witnessed a startling decrease in the mangrove cover. Due to the felling of trees for its usage for fuel and other such purposes, the costal areas are witnessing a direct attack on the one and only protection it has against salination. Even though the government and various other organizations have initiated programs and projects to counter this growing menace, it seems that unless a massive overhaul is not taken, unless a massive change in the perception of the people is not executed, then we may witness a slow yet torturous destruction of the costal areas. This report explores the phenomenal importance the mangrove forest holds to Pakistan, their spread, species and location, the reasons behind its depletion and projects done to counter the mangrove depletion. Only praying and hoping for a miracle is not enough. We must act; we must do our part to protect our costal areas. For this purpose we have done extensive research from secondary sources of data including environmental journals, articles by activists and environmental researchers. Introduction Pakistan is a country rich in biodiversity. From rivers to the Arabian Sea, from the Indus Dolphin to the Himalayan Bear, we can see that ecology of Pakistan has given the right of life too many species. In the same way, where the land grows conifers and the like, the country was said to have one of the worlds largest mangrove forest. However, global warming, and with it climate change and human activities are adversely effecting the environment. Pakistans coastline stretches from Sindh to Balouchistan and was known as one of the worlds largest mangrove cover. This gives way to a great variety of marine life and was a source of income to the settlers of the coastal communities. They are the home of great biodiversity; however their depletion is resulting in use losses for the ecosystem. Cutting of mangrove forests for fire wood and construction by locals, drying river beds, inflow of pollutant and salination are a few basic reasons for this problem. The Pakistani population, be it elite or poor, all share a common perception, they will not act till the time complete and utter destruction is inevitable. Moreover, where there is a concern or an issue with regard to the environment, the masses display a completely lax attitude. The same is the case with mangrove forests. Now that we are nearly out of time, now that one of the worlds largest mangrove forests are diminishing day by day, the population has had a rude awakening. Pakistans sprawling fishery industry which many locals and businesses depend on may not be there in the next few decades. Let us explore as to the reasons behind this phenomena. Simply put, it is because we have exploited this resource to the extent that it is difficult to make up for what has been done to these forests by man himself. By intruding into the ecosystem through wrong practices they have disturbed the entire cycle of this part of the ecosystem. However, all hope is not yet lost. There are projects being conducted by the WWF and IUCN in coastal areas to make the locals more aware on how to help protect their environment and also by planning more mangrove trees. Being residents of a coastal city and seeing mangrove forests through out our lives, we hold more importance to his topic. Conservation and protection are keys to helping preserve this habitat. Global Deforestation and Causes It is not only Pakistan but globally that mangrove forests are facing a crisis. Some contributing factors are explained here. Population growth is considered as the biggest contributor world wide. Mangroves forests are being continuously reclaimed and converted in to Roads, ports, harbors, industries and urban setups etc. Also, the alternative use of mangrove forests as fish ponds generated high amounts of monetary gains in a very short time. Lack of government attention and overall lack of awareness in most countries has led to serious depletion. In addition, obscure regulations are either too complicated or inadequate to ensure the required conservation. The mangrove management agencies, mostly the local forestry departments, often do not have the adequate manpower and logistics required for the implementation of effective management. Mangroves of Pakistan Pakistan mostly has arid and semi-arid land with less than 250 mm of annual rainfall. The landscape is diverse consisting of high mountain systems, fragile watershed areas, alluvial plains, coastal mangroves, and dune deserts. Forests cover approximately 4.58 million ha (5.7 percent) in Pakistan. Of these, 0.132 million ha (less than 3 percent) are coastal mangrove forests. (Government of Pakistan, 1996) Pakistan is divided into 18 habitat types. Mangrove forests which are classified as one of them occur mainly in the Indus Delta and in a few patches westward along the Balochistan Coast. Mangroves cover approximately 129,000 ha in the Indus Delta and about 3,000 ha on the Balochistan Coast. The Indus Delta supports 97 percent of the total mangrove forest while the three pockets on the Balochistan Coast support the remaining 3 percent. . The Indus Delta is believed to have had as many as eight species, however most of which are now extinct in Pakistan. The Indus Delta is a vast area covering approximately 600,000 ha with a coastline of 250 km, mainly bordering the city of Karachi in the northwest. The Delta is also quite diverse comprising of 17 major creeks, numerous minor creeks, mudflats, and 129,000 ha of mangrove forests. The Indus River that flows through this Delta is the source of fresh water. 95 percent of the mangroves located in the Indus Delta are of the species Avicennia marina. Very small patches of Ceriops roxburghiana (Rhizophora family) and Aegicerias corniculata (Myrinaceal family) are found near the mouth of the Indus at Keti Bunder The 800-km long Balochistan coastline Mangroves occur in relatively protected lagoons and bays. The three pockets of mangroves occur at the following locations: Miani Hor: 95 km from Karachi, the lagoon covers an area of 7,471 ha Kalmat Khor: 315 km from Karachi, the lagoon covers an area of 10,216 ha Gawatar Bay: 515 km from Karachi, the bay covers an area of 26,316 ha Miani Hor is a swampy lagoon on the coast in the Lasbela district where the climate is very arid, with less than 200 mm of rain a year. The sources of fresh water for Miani Hor are the seasonal run-off rivers of Porali and Windor. The nearest river to the other lagoon, Kalmat Khor, is the Basol River, which runs 15 km east of Khor. Gawatar, the third site, is an open bay with a mouth almost as wide as its length. Its freshwater source is the Dasht River, the largest seasonal river of Baluchistan. Sonmiani Bay near Miani Hor houses three main villages -Sonmiani, Damb and Bhira where a total of about 7,000 people live. Almost every family here depends on fishery activities. Sonmiani houses a considerable Hindu community, which lived here for centuries peacefully with the majority Muslims. The Hindu families are not involved in the fishing itself; many of the men, however, are fish traders. Sonmiani originally meant City of Gold. Once, people in this region were so rich they paid their taxes in gold. The prosperity stemmed largely from the abundant fish catches. Also, small amounts of gold were found in the region. Fayyaz Rasool, the young and passionate conservation officer of the WWF mangrove conservation project. The population of the Kalmat area is approximately 2,000. 95% of them are fishermen and belong to Kalmati and Sanghoor clan/tribes. The average monthly income of the majority of the household is about Rs. 3,000/month. Education in the area is very low and only about 5% of the population can read and write while almost all of the womenfolk are illiterate. The human population in and around mangrove forests is about 1.2 million. Nearly 900,000 people reside in the Indus Delta and 300,000 on the Balochistan Coast. The number of households is estimated to be about 140,000 in the Indus Delta and 30,000 on the Balochistan Coast. Over 90 percent of the population is directly or indirectly engaged in fishing. High returns associated with fishing are causing rapid population growth. On average, the population in the coastal areas has been growing at a rate of 6 to 8 percent annually over the last ten years. Migrants from other areas of the country, Bangladesh, and Burma, who come mostly to the Indus Delta, have contributed to this growth. Importance of Mangrove Forests So why are mangrove forests so important to ecology? Well, Mangrove forests are not just a harvesting ground for mosquitoes but it is considered to be an important productive ecological system that serves both the marine life and human beings. Many diverse species of fish, crab, shrimps and mollusk inhabit mangrove forests. Also, coastal birds use the mangrove canopy for nesting, roosting and feeding that further ads up to the vast ecosystem of these forests. A team of researchers have noted that the woody coastline-dwelling plants provide more than 10 percent of essential dissolved organic carbon that is supplied to the global ocean from land (ScienceDaily (Feb. 27, 2006)). Mangroves serve as nursing grounds for juvenile fish with refuge from large predators. The roots provide these fishes camouflage, as well as food till they do not become of a mature size. Another function of this amazing species is that they are important in protecting the coastal areas from tsunamis. The dense root systems trap sediments coming from rivers creating a wall against high wave events. They even protect these sediments to reach other marine habitats such as coral reefs which need clear water to survive. Mangrove wood is highly valuable as it is resistant to rot and insects. This creates a commercial use for these forests by indigenous coastal communities that rely on this wood to for construction as well as fuel. It also serves medicinal purposes and fodder for their livestock. Mangrove forests, if given the importance, serve as great tourist attractions from its coral reefs and sandy beaches, but surprisingly only few countries have recognized the tourist potential of their mangrove forests. This is where the new awareness of ec-tourism can help. Causes of Mangrove Depletion So far we have discussed the importance of mangroves, the current situation in Pakistan and the importance of mangroves with respect to Pakistan. Now we focus on the causes of depletion of mangroves in Pakistan. One of the major causes of depletion of mangroves in Pakistan is the same as we have seen world wide, that is, the expansion of human civilization that leads to deforestation. We are progressing at a very high rate but that does not mean that we ignore the natural gifts that nature has provided us with. We must learn to live with nature in peace rather than destroying it, that to for our own good. Talking about Pakistan specifically, there is a clear case of mismanagement. This was highlighted in a workshop conducted in Islamabad (3rdJuly 2009) where this issue was raised with regard to the role of government, which was criticized for not protecting mangroves forests in the Sindh coastal area. It was discussed that there is a constant degradation in the mangroves of Sindhs coastal area due to the governments negligence and as no clear strategy was devised for their conservation. It was argued that apart from the lack of surveillance and expansion activities, the conflict of owner ship of such land is also a huge contributor to the present condition. There have been long pending cases of how and to whom to the areas belong, still there is no clear answer and the lands are left unattended. Changes in the expansion of sand dunes, non-flow of fresh water into the sea, and unchecked cutting and sale of mangroves have been contributing to the depletion of mangroves. When this cuttin g is done on a large scale it is usually for the purposes of reclaiming the area into land. Sadly, it is the authorities that are doing this for the government. However it is still unclear whose jurisdiction this falls under, the Karachi Port Trust or some other, and therefore who will administer. The inflow of untreated sewage into the swamps is growing day by day as well and there is no main authority to gauge and administer this. Thus illegal work continues and there is no one to manage it due to lack of coordination amongst the departments. Consequences of Deforestation The mangroves plantations are the breeding grounds for thousands of species which thrive in a combination of saline and freshwater reservoirs. Due to illegal cutting and grazing the mangroves are rapidly vanishing, only four species have been spared out of the original eight. However despite the local externalities, the reduced flow of freshwater is the major reason behind their destruction. The pace of devastation has dramatically increased over the time which is alarming. Obviously, their destruction is directly linked to the low catch of fish and shrimps. At least 10 MAF of freshwater downstream the Kotri barrage is needed to rehabilitate the region if we desire to fish in the same manner. At present, the greatest threat to mangroves worldwide is the farmed shrimp industry. Mangroves are natural nurseries for shrimp, and this industry destroys the mangroves by cutting them in wide swaths to make room for artificial ponds. These ponds are closed off to prevent the shrimp from swimming back to the sea. Without the natural cleansing of the tides, the ponds soon become polluted and laden with chemicals added by the farmers. Although not all farmed shrimp are raised in this environmentally destructive manner, in some countries this type of farming predominates. If current trends persist then entire biodiversity of the area would be lost, also leading to serious social and economic repercussions. Over 90 per cent of the population of Keti Bunder is illiterate and lives well below the poverty line. If the mangrove forest is exhausted not only that area would be vulnerable to cyclones and tsunamis, but also innumerable fishermen would loose their livelihood and their way of life hence its vital for the eco-system without which this fragile habitat would fall victim to extinction. Every monsoon, fishermen suffer damages due to rising sea tides. However, there was no help ever from any official quarters. Most fishermen in the affected creek areas spent the night in boats as many houses were inundated in front of their eyes and their precious belongings were lost, many have shifted to the inland area of Babu Dablu village near the Keti Bunder Town from Chaan and Hajamro creeks a few years ago. Though the coastal area faces a number of problems, the foremost is the lack of drinking water supply. Keti Bunder has no direct line for drinking water while official work on the same continues at a snails pace. Water is brought in through tankers and is sold for Rs1000 to Rs2000 a trip. Landlords buy water; some store it in their tank, which is then supplied to inland and creek areas. Four to five gallons of water is sold at Rs25 to R30. Middlemen, who give credit to fishermen on interest and then continue to exploit them for generations, are also supported by landlords. Keti Bunder fisherman facing sea intrusion which has become faster in recent decades, has swallowed up 28 dehs (settlements) out of the 42 and the population has been displaced thrice. Abject poverty, disease and government apathy have left the people hopeless and almost the entire population has been hooked to gutka. Even women and children are not free of the addiction. Some non-government organizations are doing their bit, but that is too little to improve the lives of thousands of people. What is there to live for? Gutka is a big relief. It helps us to get rid of hunger, pain and the agony and weakness of illness, said another fisherman. About the exploitative tactics of the middlemen, he said these people provided poor fishermen with loans for meeting travel expenses. Things were not that bad when I was young. We used to have a good catch and lived a healthier life. Now, its difficult even to feed children during off season, said Mohammad Hasan, an old man with poor health and eyesight. My eye problem has spread to such an extent that I cant even see now. I went to a doctor in Gharo, but I couldnt continue the treatment since I didnt have money. I spend my entire day sitting on the chair listening to surrounding voices and, at times, reminiscing bygone days. Reforestation of Mangroves In Pakistan there are currently different organizations working towards reducing the negative impact caused by the people on the mangrove ecosystem. Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) is a civil society organization that envisages change. To change the policies and practices of the state and its institutions in Pakistan, regarding the fisheries sector, would highlight sustainable fisheries policy that will empower the fishers and will ensure the preservation of natural resources which are depleting in abundant quantity. Organizations such as the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature), WWF, the World Bank, the Forest Department budgets and the National Mangrove Committee of Pakistan are working for the reforestation of mangroves. In addition to that studies on the mangroves are being encouraged. In 1980, the Commission of Ecology of the IUCN created a group to collate existing information on the status of mangroves globally for using it in the management, guidance and conservation of this natural resource. The focus of these programmes is to initiate a development strategy in order to save the mangroves from the hazards of human activities. There is also an emphasis on the availability of alternatives for the villagers who are dependent on these forests for fuel and fodder. About the WWF intervention under the Indus for All Programme, a number of initiatives have been taken with community support. They included setting up of five wind turbines in coastal and inland areas, mangrove plantation, uniting villagers under community-based organizations and provision of boats with water tanks that feed four villages. Medical camps and workshops for awareness-raising had also been held. In 1985, the government initiated a programme for replanting of mangroves. The IUCN- Pakistan, the UNDP/UNESCO, Regional mangrove project, and the Sindh Forest Department were involved in this project. More than 9,000 hectares were planted around the Indus Delta. A survey that gauged the dependence of local people on these mangroves showed that about 100,000 people depended on them. They lacked many facilities and even did not have proper drinking water. In response to the survey the IUCN-Pakistan initiated a mass plantation in the coastal villages. The purpose of the programme was to establish wood lots and to create an alternative source of fuel and fodder for their animals and reduce their dependence on the inter-tidal mangrove. The villagers were given technical support to grow these plants in their own vicinity. The local villagers maintain these plantations at present. Conclusion: It is disappointing to see Pakistan lose such a great gift of nature. However, there is still some time to cope with the damage that has been done. There are projects happening on a small scale but more has to be done, especially from the federal level. Mangrove cover is almost 132,000ha, and the coastal areas are still home to a great number of people, many of them indigenous. In a recent project by the WWF 541,176 mangrove saplings were planted by 300 local fisherman volunteers in one day, they broke the previous record of 447,874 tress planted by India(Posted:16 July 2009,WWF.org ) This was a great initiative taken up by the WWF and formed a healthy competition between the two countries. What was even more interesting about this project and should be followed is that it involved the local people into something that made them involved with their environment and for their benefit and that of the eco system. However, unfortunately the government is still not trying to work on a system to generate the maximum, in a better, more environmentally friendly way. Even though, if this area is looked into and invested in, it could be an even greater industry, with a bigger contribution to the GDP, as well as help in the socio-economic development of the area. The main form of earning in these local indigenous areas is fishing. However, over the last few years this has diminished as the number of fish in the sea has been becoming lesser because of the causes stated above. This is disrupting the lives and livelihood of these people as many are planning to give up this occupation and migrate to the cities for a better livelihood, including the women. It is our duty as contributors to this countrys environment to conserve these forests not just for our selves or our future generations, but also for the marine life that depends heavily on these plantations. Conservation of these mangroves is essential for the increasingly polluting environment of our society and it lies upon the shoulders of both the government and the locals to find ways to sustain this habitat in our country. Citations: http://bcrc.bio.umass.edu/vifishandwildlife/Education/FactSheet/PDF_Docs/28Mangroves.pdf http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/02/060227123154.htm http://www.panda.org/about_our_earth/blue_planet/coasts/mangroves/mangrove_importance/ http://www.wwfpak.org/pdf/tp_vdp_kalmat.pdf http://www.wwfpak.org/pdf/forest_mangrove_rcpakistan.pdf http://assets.panda.org/downloads/pakistan.pdf http://www.pff.org.pk/ http://www.pakissan.com/english/news/newsDetail.php?newsid=8189 http://www.fao.org/forestry/docrep/wfcxi/PUBLI/V6/T386E/1-3.HTM http://www.wwfpak.org/foreverindus/pdf/newsnevents/inpress/dawn220109.pdf http://www.dawn.com/2008/07/04/local11.htm http://www.panda.org/about_our_earth/about_freshwater/freshwater_news/?170461/WWF-rewards-Pakistan-for-tree-planting-world-record_sc=1

Todd Gitlin Summary on Media

Todd Gitlin is a notable author born in New York City. He attended the University of California at Berkeley, where he received a PhD in sociology and was heavily involved in the Students for a Democratic Society group. Gitlin is now a professor at New York University where he teaches culture, journalism, and sociology. Gitlin’s selection, Supersaturation, or, The Media Torrent and Disposable Feeling, comes from his book Media Unlimited: How the Torrent of Images and Sounds Overwhelms Our Lives (2001). In this selection, Gitlin describes how private lives and domestic spaces have evolved from the seventeenth-century until now. He feels as though our once private households are now dominated by other worldly things in the form of media. There are many ideas in Todd Gitlin’s writings that support his view of our media influenced world, two of which, are the ideas of â€Å"supersaturation† and â€Å"disposable feeling. † According to dictionary. com the definition of supersaturation is â€Å"to increase the concentration of (a solution) beyond saturation. Gitlin uses the word â€Å"supersaturation† to describe the way today’s world has completely absorbed the media and its relations. Society has become immersed in the gossip and images displayed by the media. The lines between living space and working space are no longer as distinct as they used to be. Gitlin states that, â€Å"the outside world has entered the home with vengeance – in the profusion of media† (Gitlin 558). Relating to this same concept, Gitlin uses the idea of â€Å"disposable feeling† to explain the way people of today are able to move from one worldly image to the next, one piece of gossip to another, with no concern. We are able to shrug them off and come back to them later if we choose to do so. In some of Gitlin’s research, he refers to the writings of analyst Raymond Williams who states, â€Å"What we have now is drama as habitual experience, more in a week, in many cases, than most human beings would previously have seen in a lifetime† (Gitlin 559). We have become immune to true feelings for individual images and stories, and thrive on the idea of the next gossip that will follow. In this selection of the book, Gitlin discusses a seventeenth-century Dutch painter by the name of Vermeer. Vermeer was known for being able to†fr[ee]ze instants, but instants that spoke of the relative constancy of the world in which his subjects lived† (Gitlin 558). People collected Vermeer’s paintings for display throughout their homes. Gitlin sees Vermeer as the seventeenth-century version of the media. In that time, the images painted were relative to the people’s era and private world. In today’s world Vermeer would be the equivalent to a celebrity photographer or movie director. If Vermeer, or any other artist of his time, were to see today’s households, they would find that the once private space inside the home is now much more dominated by images of the outside world than what would have been possible in the 1600’s. As mentioned in Gitlin’s research, statistics show that, â€Å" ‘watching TV is the dominant leisure activity of Americans, consuming 40 percent of the average person’s free time as a primary activity [when people give television there undivided attention]’ † (Gitlin 560). Even the wealthier parts of poor worlds have access to some sort of media. It would take someone from a third world country to be stunned by the fact that our lives are constantly portrayed through television, radio, internet and other forms of media. People of today come in contact with more â€Å"information† in a single day than any one person of Vermeer’s time could have ever imagined. The media surrounds our world in every aspect of society. Gitlin notes in his writings that the statistics referenced â€Å"don’t take into account the billboards, the TV’s at bars and on planes, the Muzak in restaurants and shops . . . nd logos whizzing by on the sides of buses and taxis, climbing the walls of buildings, making announcements from caps, bags, T-shirts, and sneakers† (Gitlin 563). Thanks to all of the latest technology and communication systems people are able to connect to the outside world whenever we like. In Gitlin’s conclusion he goes on to explain that our personal opinion is no longer important to the world. People of our time are followers rather than leaders, and are consistently being sucked in to how the media says we should live our lives. Gitlin feels that the way we live our lives, â€Å"or spend it,† (563) determines who we are. Our lives have become completely consumed with technology and the latest electronics. Gitlin argues that even in our most private times we cannot bring ourselves to stay clear of the media. â€Å"[Our] life experience has become an experience in the presence of media† (Gitlin 563). In seventeenth-century time this degree of media dependence would be unthinkable. Earls View In my reading of Todd Gitlin’s Supersaturation, or, the Media Torrent and Disposable Feeling, I have come to the conclusion that I agree with Gitlin on the matter of an overwhelming media presence in today’s world. The media has become such a large influence on everything on society. From TV, internet, and cell phones to billboards, magazines, and newspapers, it has become nearly impossible to be media free. Going along with Gitlin’s opinion on the subject, I agree that even in our seemingly private home lives, we continue to depend on media and other electronic entertainment. In this day and age people are constantly fixated with staying connected with the outside world through the media using smart phones, emails, news, social networks and sports. As technology continues to advance we become consumed with the idea of having the latest and the best gadgets to keep us linked to media at all times. These gadgets have become part of our daily routine to check on society. People feel lost when they can’t check there emails or their status on Facebook. Dinner in a home used to be eating at the dining room table and having conversations about your day but has now become sitting in the living room and watching TV. Even children have been affected by this media trend. They watch more TV than reading books. There are TV shows to help them learn rather than reading books for math, science and English. It is clear that the world is being dominated by media. The world has evolved in to a smart, fast pace place where we have to know everything that goes on, not just where we live and what’s going on in our lives but the entire world as well. We spend all our money on top of the line, expensive electronics to keep up to date with media and worldly news * Technology continues to advance (walkman mp3 players, tapes blue ray) * Constantly fixated on staying â€Å"connected† to the outside world (using smart phones to check email, news, sports) * Has become part of daily routine to check for updates in society * Even watch tv whil e eating family meals, tv’s in restaurants, portable computers, ect * Faster growing demand for careers in technology fields

Gestational Diabetes Essay

The clinic RN reviews Amanda’s prenatal record prior to performing a nursing assessment. Amanda has given birth twice, once at 35-weeks (twins) and once at 39-weeks (singleton). All of these children are alive and well. She has had one spontaneous abortion at 9-weeks gestation. 1. How should the nurse record Amanda’s obstetrical history using the G-T-P-A-L designation? A) 3-2-0-1-3. B) 3-1-1-1-2. C) 4-1-1-1-3. D) 4-2-1-0-2. Correct answer(s): C The nurse notes that Amanda’s fasting 1 hour glucose screening level, which was done two days previously, is 158 mg/dl. 2. The nurse recognizes that what information in the client’s history supports a diagnosis of gestational diabetes? A) Maternal great-aunt has insulin dependent (Type 1) diabetes. B) Youngest child weighed 4300 grams at 39-weeks gestation. C) Trace of protein noted in urine specimen at last prenatal visit. D) Client is 64 inches tall and weighed 134 prior to pregnancy. Correct answer(s): B Further Glucose Screening Amanda is scheduled for a 3 hour oral glucose tolerance test in 5 days, and is told to arrive at the lab at 8:30 am. Amanda asks if there are any special instructions for the test in addition to fasting for 8 hours immediately prior to the test. 3. Which instruction should the nurse give the client? A) Only coffee or tea is allowed once the fasting level has been drawn. B) Follow an unrestricted diet and exercise pattern for at least 3 days before the test. C) Write down questions and call the laboratory for instructions the day before the test. D) Smoking in moderation is allowed up until the time the test begins. Correct answer(s): B Amanda asks the nurse why she wasn’t tested for gestational diabetes until she was almost 28-weeks gestation. 4. The nurse’s response should be based on the understanding of which normal physiologic change of pregnancy? A) Maternal insulin crosses the placenta to regulate fetal glucose levels throughout pregnancy. B) In the first trimester, estrogen and progesterone cause an increase in maternal fasting glucose levels. C) Hormonal changes in the second and third trimesters result in increased maternal insulin resistance. D) Fetal insulin production increases each trimester, forcing the mother’s body to produce more glucose. Correct answer(s): C Interdisciplinary Client Care Amanda’s 3 hour Oral Glucose Tolerance Test indicates that she does have gestational diabetes. The RN phones Amanda and arranges for her to meet with the CNM and perinatologist, as well as an RN diabetes educator and a registered dietician (RD) the next day. The perinatologist and CNM discuss gestational diabetes with Amanda and after seeking input from Amanda, outline their suggested plan of care, which includes dietary control and glucose self-monitoring. After the perinatologist and CNM leave, Amanda appears confused and asks the RN, â€Å"Does this mean I will always have diabetes?† 5. Which response should the nurse give to the client? A) â€Å"You will need to be periodically evaluated for Type 2 diabetes for the rest of your life.† B) â€Å"There should be no problem as long as you do not have to use insulin during this pregnancy.† C) â€Å"There is no need to talk about this now. We’ll discuss it at your first postpartum visit.† D) â€Å"Tell me what worries you about the possibility of developing Type 2 diabetes after your pregnancy ends.† Correct answer(s): A After all her questions are answered, Amanda is scheduled for a return visit with the CNM in one week, and is escorted to the office of the registered dietician (RD). The RD discusses the need to control carbohydrates while maintaining an appropriate carbohydrate-protein-fat ratio to promote consistent weight gain (based on the woman’s body mass index), prevent ketoacidosis, and encourage normoglycemia (euglycemia). Amanda is then introduced to the RN diabetes educator. She asks the nurse to clarify what the RD told her about the content and timing of her meals. 6. Which response should the nurse give to the client? A) Eliminate the bedtime snack if heartburn develops after eating. B) Choose complex carbohydrates that are high in fiber content. C) Increase the percentage of protein in the diet if anemia develops. D) Vary timing of meals and snacks based on individual preferences. Correct answer(s): B The RN diabetes educator makes a plan of care to teach Amanda to monitor her glucose levels. The RN diabetes educator discusses the use of self-glucose monitoring and gives Amanda verbal and written guidance about optimal glucose levels at each glucose testing point throughout the day. The nurse also provides instruction about calibration of the glucose monitor, fingerstick technique, and use of the monitor for testing. After reviewing the instructions and a successful return demonstration, the diabetes educator and Amanda agree to meet after Amanda’s prenatal appointment to follow-up on today’s teaching/learning. 7. Which fingerstick blood glucose (FSBG) testing protocol should the diabetes educator recommend for Amanda? A) Only if symptoms of hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia occur. B) Prior to breakfast (fasting) and two hours after each meal. C) Before and two hours after all meals, at bedtime, and during the night. D) Once daily until glucose levels are stabilized, then weekly. Correct answer(s): B A Complication Occurs Amanda manages her gestational diabetes with diet. She experiences a few episodes of postprandial hyperglycemia, but does not have to go on insulin. At her 36-week prenatal visit, the CNM assesses Amanda and finds that there is no increase in fetal growth since the week before. When questioned further, Amanda tells the CNM that the infant has seemed to â€Å"slow down† a little the last few days. After consultation with the perinatologist, a biophysical profile (BPP) is scheduled and Amanda is admitted to the hospital’s antepartum unit. The antepartum RN performs a nonstress test (NST) as part of the BPP. 8. The nurse recognizes which fetal heart rate (FHR) changes indicate a reactive nonstress test? A) Persistent late decelerations associated with three uterine contractions, lasting 40 to 60 seconds each in a 10 minute period. B) An increase in the FHR baseline to 170 beats per minute, lasting for at least 20 minutes. C) Marked, long term FHR variability in response to contractions caused by nipple stimulation. D) Two episodes of acceleration (> 15 beats/minute, lasting > 15 seconds) related to fetal movement in a 20 minute period. Correct answer(s): D Amanda has a non-reactive Non-stress Test. She is taken to the ultrasound department for completion of the BPP and her total score is 6 (Fetal Breathing Movements = 2, Gross Body Movements = 0, Fetal Tone = 2, Reactive Non-stress Test = 0, and Qualitative Amniotic Fluid Volume = 2). Based on this score, the perinatologist recommends an amniocentesis be completed to assess for lung maturity prior to making a decision whether to induce delivery for Amanda the next day. 9. Prior to the amniocentesis, which action should the nurse take first? A) Administer Rh immune globulin (RhoGAM) if client is Rh negative. B) Assist the client to the bathroom and ask her to empty her bladder. C) Apply the external fetal monitor to evaluate uterine contractility. D) Clean the abdomen with betadine solution and sterile 4 by 4s. Correct answer(s): B Amanda and her fetus are monitored for two hours after the procedure and display no adverse effects so the external fetal monitor is discontinued. The amniocentesis reveals fetal lung maturity and an induction is scheduled for the next morning. At 2 a.m. Amanda complains of increased uterine discomfort. She is contracting every 10 minutes and while the antepartum nurse is in the room, Amanda’s membranes rupture spontaneously. 10. Which action by the nurse takes priority? A) Notify the CNM and perinatologist of the changes in Amanda’s status. B) Transfer Amanda to the labor-delivery-recovery (LDR) suites. C) Reapply the external fetal monitor to evaluate the fetal heart rate. D) Start an intravenous line using an 18 gauge or larger intravenous catheter. Correct answer(s): C

The Theme of Deception The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 3 Words: 1039 Downloads: 4 Date added: 2019/05/18 Category Literature Essay Level High school Tags: Huckleberry Finn Essay Mark Twain Essay Did you like this example? In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the theme of deception is clearly portrayed by Mark Twain throughout the entire novel. The motives for this deception are different depending on the situation and also on the character. The book starts off with deception right away when Huck sneaks out the window of the Widows house at night and then sneaks back in later, pretending nothing happened, and the deception continues steadily throughout the novel until the last few pages when the truth seems to finally come out. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "The Theme of Deception The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain" essay for you Create order Huckleberry also seems to be struggling through an identity crisis throughout the novel, and the characters he meets show him in very extreme levels who he wants to be and who he doesnt want to be. His upbringing may have played a part in Huckleberry being so deceitful. For starters, his dad would steal things and call it borrowing. His mother seems to have died when he was young and his dad abused him and still abuses him, partly because he is most often found drunk. In the book there are countless examples of deception, both big and small, so much that I could never fit it all in an essay or else wed be here all day, so Ive decided to focus some of the bigger acts of deception. On page 51 of the book and continuing through the 7th chapter, Mark Twain presents the first big act of deception where Huckleberry fakes his own death. His dad would come home drunk every night and either beat him or just go crazy, and Huck would always tolerate it, but a few nights prior his dad had came close to killing him in his drunken state. Huckleberry didnt feel safe where he was, but he didnt want to go back to living a civil life with the Widow, so he decided to run away. But he wanted to run away without anyone going after him, so he decided to fake his murder, and he created a pretty good case. He killed a pig and dragged its blood everywhere, and also took many belongings from the cabin he lived in with his dad in the woods, making it look like someone had murdered him and looted the house. He also made tracks going the opposite way he was planning on going. He had recently found a canoe floating down the river at high tide, so he packed this with some belongings and sa iled off down the river. I believe in this case, deception by Huck was used for good, because he was running away from a bad situation that no child should have to endure. When Huck meets Jim on the island he first stays on, he doesnt turn Jim in as a runaway slave, but instead decides to travel with him. During their travels, Jim was often thought to be a runaway slave, so they had to come up with many different stories to keep him safe. The hiding of Jim was deceptive, because they werent letting anyone know his true identity. But this kind of deception was to protect Jim, and to keep him safe and out of the bonds of slavery, so I would argue that it was a good kind of deception. Huck thought that for sure he would go to hell because he helped Jim, and many times considered not helping him at all and turning him in, but in the end he stuck with him. Jim had a good soul, and it turns out in the end of the book that he actually was a free man all along because the Widow set him free in her will. Much later in the book on page 192, near the end of chapter 19, Huck and Jim meet two men who claim to be kings and dukes but actually werent. They just wish to be treated well and loved and respected, probably because because they had never gotten that. They in themselves were deceiving, but they also came up with plans of deception to trick people out of their money. They did phony shows that werent legitimate, but they made lots of money because people came thinking it would be great. They pretended to be people they werent, just so that they could get donations and then use that money to become rich. They even tried to pretend to be the heirs of someone wealthy who had just died, and it became a huge scandal that they just barely escaped. They used deception in a bad way to gain wealth for themselves at the expense of others. Huck didnt want to be like these men and he also didnt want to have anything to do with them. He was tired of their deceptive ways. Eventually the men got w hat they deserved, and Huck became free of them, though afterward he also pitied them. Deception can be used in so many different ways, and I believe this book does a great job at highlighting all the different ways that deception is used. It is used to protect Jim from being taken into slavery again. It is used to cheat people out of their money by pretending to be something they arent. It is used to protect Huck from his abusive father and also to set him free to a lifestyle of adventure instead of being cooped up. It is used to hide the characters identities and also to create new identities for them. And those I just mentioned were only a few out of many others. This book has shown me even more clearly how deception can be used in both good and bad ways, and also that deception is never completely good or bad. Additionally, I kept record of the deception I recognized throughout the book, and here are the page numbers I recorded: pg. 48, 51, 92, 116, 141, 156, 192, 204, 214, 222, 250, and 317. Now I obviously didnt write down all the page numbers of deception, for there would have been far too many. And I didnt include page numbers from the end of the book where Huck and Tom set free Jim in the most dangerous and extravagant way possible even though Jim is already a free man by law. I just wanted to include these numbers for future reference.