Interprofessional Working in Nursing

Interprofessional Working in Nursing Mr Alfred Robinson is 85- year-old and lived happily with his wife for 50 years in a London inner city borough. They had no children but got on well and socialised with friends and neighbours. Mr Robinsons wife, Lucy, recently passed away. Alfred seems to carry on with his life as usual, going to bingo, having lunch twice a week with friends and doing gardening. Six months after the wifes death, he seemed less communicative, unkempt and frail. He confided in Susan, a family friend, that he was missing his wife, having no appetite, and feeling tired all time. After discussion, Susan volunteered to accompany Alfred to his GP for a check up. Mr Robinson was diagnosed with chest infection and admitted to hospital. Within a short time he had two further admissions, one with dehydration, and weight loss, and the other with a fall which affected his self-caring ability and confidence to walk. Three hospital admission, Mr Robinson needs were met holistically by different health and social care professionals through an inter-professional working teamwork and he always made good progress. Using relevant literature, observations made and experiences gained during my clinical placements, this essay will discuss the case of an 85-year old frail and widowed man, Mr Alfred Robinson, who appears to be grieving from the loss of his wife, has suffered a chest infection, suffering from loss of appetite and weight and has had a fall which has affected his self-caring ability and confidence to walk. In addition to discussing interprofessional working, this essay will identify three health and social care professionals, and their roles within the interprofessional working team in their quest to restore Alfreds health. The essay will next focus, in greater detail, on one of the professionals and will cover issues such as accountability, responsibility, legal, moral, ethical and statutory regulation of the professional body to which the individual belongs. The essay will then reflect on how engaging in group discussion and presentation helped in writing this piece, and then conclud e with a summary of the main points raised. Interprofessional working, simply put, means working and learning together and sharing knowledge to achieve a common goal in relation to a patient care. As specialization grows in all the healthcare professions, so too does the need for the simultaneous development of practice that encourages working together. As Bleakley et al (2006, p467) have pointed out, there is a growing body of evidence to suggest that interprofessional practice offers greater benefits for patient care and safety than multi-professionalism. Hutchings et al (2003) opined that it is impossible for one professional to possess all the skills, knowledge and resources needed to meet the total healthcare needs of the society. Quality care and effectives services are the product of good team and these aspirations should be central in clinical guidelines, position statements or standard of practice. In spite of the apparent benefits of interprofessional practice, there are obstacles to interprofessional working. Headri ck et al (1998, p773) have identified some barriers to interprofessional working. These include: differences in history and culture, historical interprofessional and intra-professional rivalries, differences in language and jargon, varying levels of preparation, qualifications and status, fears of diluted professional identity and accountability, as well as concerns regarding clinical responsibility. Three health and social care professionals this essay has chosen to collaborate in order to restore Mr Alfred Robinsons health are: a bereavement counsellor, a dietitian and a physiotherapist. The bereavement counsellors role is to help Alfred to adapt to the death of Lucy, his wife for 50 years. Alfreds response and reaction to the loss (grief) of his wife includes physical, psychological, social and spiritual components. Alfred appears to be experiencing more complicated grief reactions to his bereavement and loss (Doka, 2006) and lack of progress towards psychical assimilation after passage of time and appears to be exhibiting the presence of maladaptive behaviours (Freud, 1917). The bereavement counsellor will assist in healing of Alfreds grief psychically in order that he experiences a less psychologically painful living without Lucy. The counsellor will also assist Alfred to have within the self an inner awareness of movement through his grief and towards a more adaptive relationship with Lucy (Fenn, 2011). A dietitian is a healthcare professional who focuses on proper food and nutrition in order to promote good health (WHO, 2010). Dietitians assess, diagnose and treat diet and nutrition problems at individual and wider public level. Uniquely, dietitians use public health and scientific research on food, health and disease which they translate into practical guidance to enable people make appropriate lifestyle and food choices (The British Dietetic Association, 2011). Working in consultation with other health care givers, a dietitian was involved in the diagnosis and dietary treatment of Mr Robinson. As Mr Robertson had poor appetite and had lost weight, the dietitian would have advised and provided a nutritional plan based on a comprehensive needs assessment of Mr Robinson, against which progress was monitored and outcomes evaluated in order to optimise his nutritional status and prevent re-infection and further weight loss. For instance the dietitian would have prescribed special diet , and nutritional supplement and Mr Robinsons weight reviewed regularly to ensure that the desired progress was being made. The rest of the essay will focus on physiotherapist, statutory regulatory of the physiotherapy practice, professional body of physiotherapy and the roles of physiotherapist. The rationale for the choice of a physiotherapist is that Mr. Robinson had had a chest infection and a fall which had affected his self-caring ability and confidence to walk. The physiotherapist would have helped restore Mr Robinsons movement ability and confidence to walk. The physiotherapist would have, in addition, helped treat his chest infection through the removal the excess secretion in Mr Robinsons lungs, assisted cough, and tried to improve ventilation of the lungs by physical means. All physiotherapists in the United Kingdom have received training on dealing with chest diseases and infections. (The Jennifer Trust, 2009). As a student nurse, I had the opportunity to observe, explore, interact and collaborate with physiotherapists in delivering quality care to patients during my clinical placement. I was once placed in a stroke rehabilitation unit where I worked closely with other health and social care professionals. These include doctors, nurses, dieticians, physiotherapist, clinical psychologists, occupational therapist, speech and language therapist, healthcare assistants and others. During the placement I had the chance to observe the physiotherapist helping an elderly patient in maintaining his mobility and independence after a fall. I also had a unique chance to assist a stroke patient to walk around under the supervision of a physiotherapist. I also observed a speech therapist helping the same patient to re-discover his speech while a dietitian offer advice on nutrition and diet to the same patient who happened to be a diabetic as well. The World Congress of Physical Therapy in1999 described the nature of physiotherapy as providing services to people and populations to develop maintain and restore maximum movement and functional ability throughout the lifespan. Besides, physical therapy is concerned with identifying and maximising movement potential within the spheres of promotion, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation, (cited in Hammond and Wheeler, 2008, p3). The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) (2002b) defines physiotherapy as a health profession concerned with human function and movement and maximising potential. Physiotherapy uses physical approaches to promote, maintain and restore physical, psychological and social well-being, taking into account of variations in health status. Physiotherapy is science- based, committed to extending, applying, evaluating and reviewing the evidence that underpins and informs its practice and delivery. The exercise of clinical judgement and informed interpretation is at its core (Hammond and Wheeler, 2008 p3). In the CSP revised Scope Professional Practice (2008), the definition of scope of physiotherapy practice is based on four pillars of massage, exercise, electrotherapy and kindred forms of treatment (cited in Dimond, 2009, p4). With its root in massaging, the therapeutic touching of patients sets physiotherapy aside from other professions. Physiotherapists continue to use massage therapeutically in addition to manual techniques such as manipulation and reflex therapy. Therapeutic handling underpins many aspects of rehabilitation, requiring the touching of patients to facilitate movements (Hammond and Wheeler, 2008, p3). To practise in the profession of physiotherapy in the UK, one is required by law to be registered with the Health Professions Council (HPC), UKs statutory regulator for health professions. The titles physiotherapist and physical therapist are protected by the powers of Health Profession Order 2001 and may only be used by persons who are on HPCs statutory register. The essence of this is to protect patients from unqualified or inadequately skilled healthcare providers. HPC keeps a register for health professional that meets its standards and it takes action if registered health professionals do not meet those standards. The HPC sets the standards of professional training, performance and conduct for fifteen professions including physiotherapist (HPC 2011). The HPC has since 2006 put in place a system, requiring re-registration at intervals of two years and that all physiotherapists provide evidence that they have been developing and are continuing to develop their skills and knowledge while they are registered. The Continuing Professional Development (CPD) standards require physiotherapist to supply a profile on request demonstrating fulfilment of the CPD standards (tested through sample audit). The standard requires all registrants to maintain a continuous, up-to-date and accurate record of their CPD activities. This is to ensure that registrants CPD has contributed to the quality of practice, service delivery and benefits the service user. All registrants are expected to able to demonstrate that their CPD is a blend of learning activities relevant to current and future practice. Physiotherapists are fully autonomous practitioners and do not require a medical referral in order to see a patient. Patients may access a physiotherapist directly themselves, or may be referred to a physiotherapist by other health professionals. The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) is a professional body for physiotherapist. The CSP provides a framework for curriculum of physiotherapy education and approves those physiotherapy programmes that meet the requirements of the framework on behalf of the profession. Additionally the CSP publishes rules of professional conduct and standards of physiotherapy practice derived from within the profession and are in harmony with those of the HPC. Anyone on the HPC physiotherapist register may call themselves a physiotherapist, however, only those who are also members of the CSP, may call themselves as chartered physiotherapist. It is worthy to note that relationship with the HPC is one of registrant; with the CSP it is one of membership. The breadth of activity and resources that the CSP undertakes and provides seek to establish a level of excellence for the physiotherapy profession. Its education and professional activity is centred on leading and supporting its members delivery of high-quality, evidence-based patience care. The CSP is the primary holder and shaper of physiotherapy practice in the UK and works on behalf of the profession to protect the chartered status of physiotherapists standing, which is the one denoting excellence (Hammond and Wheeler, 2008, p2). The CSP sets standard and ideals of behaviours for its members. The CSPs Rules of Professional Conduct was first endorsed in 1895 (Barclay, 1994) and has been revised and updated periodically since that time. A new Code of Professional Values and Behaviour which will supersede the Rules of Professional Conduct (still valid) is being piloted with members (CSP, 2011). The Rules of Professional Conduct (the Rules) defines the professional behaviour expected of chartered physiotherapists which are intended to safeguard patients. The Rules require chartered physiotherapist to: respect and uphold the rights, dignity and individual sensibilities of every patient; ensure the confidentiality and security of patient information; work safely and competently; not exploit patients; and act in a way which reflects credit on the profession and does not cause offence to patient and carer (CSP, 2002a). The CSP has since 1990, periodically published CSP Standards of Physiotherapy Practice (the Standards), the fourth edition was in 2005 and currently being revised (CSP, 2011). The Standards describes the professional consensus on the practise of physiotherapy and reflect the collective judgement of the profession. The Standards provides statements about the practical application of the ethical principles set in the Rules. The core standards provide a framework within which all chartered physiotherapist and associate members are required to practise. The core standards play a central role in the delivery of safe and effective physiotherapy to patients. For instance, the Core Standards 2 (CSP, 2005a) states Patients are given the relevant information about the proposed physiotherapy procedure, taking into account their age, emotional state and cognitive ability, to allow for informed consent. The expected measurable performance or activity set out for this standard include: the patient s consent is obtained before starting any examination/ treatment; treatment options, including significant benefits, risks, and side-effects, are discussed with the patient; the patient is given the opportunity to ask questions; the patient is informed of the right to decline physiotherapy at any stage without that prejudicing future care; the patients consent to the treatment plan is documented in the patients records. The Standards include clinical audit tools for measurable performance or activity to be assessed against. The clinical audit tool consists of a template for physiotherapist to assess both core and service standards so as to identify areas of good practice and also areas for development work. The essay will now consider some of the roles physiotherapists play in the health delivery system. Physiotherapists work in outpatients department of healthcare institution where they treat spinal and joint problems, accidents and sports injuries. In caring for the elderly like Mr Robinson, physiotherapists help maintain mobility and independence, rehabilitation after falls, treat arthritis and chest infection. In neurology, physiotherapists help restore normal movement and function in stroke and multiple sclerosis in patients. Physiotherapists play important roles in mental healthcare delivery by giving classes in relaxation, improving confidence and self-esteem through exercising. Physiotherapists work in hospice where they treat terminally ill people suffering from ailments such as AIDS and cancer. In paediatrics care, physiotherapists treat injured and sick children as well as those with severe mental diseases and physical deformities and conditions such as cerebral palsy and spi na bifida. This essay was facilitated by the feedback received during the group presentation. It helped me to research more to understand the topic in general and also to plan and structure the essay. In conclusion this essay has taken a cursory look at interprofessional working, its benefits and challenges in general and specifically how a dietitian, bereavement counsellor and physiotherapist collaborated in restoring Mr Robinson to good health. The essay explored the HPC as statutory regulators of physiotherapy to ensure high standards and to protect patients from unqualified or inadequately skilled healthcare providers. The CSP is the primary holder and shaper of physiotherapy practice in the UK and works on behalf of the profession to protect the chartered status of physiotherapists standing, which is the one denoting excellence.

Relating to Life Struggles Portrayed in Tim OBriens The Things They C

Relating to Life Struggles Portrayed in Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried There are many things that I carry around with me in my daily life that I both need and don't need. Although, I carry many more positive things than I do negative, I know that they are there and how I must learn to use them is essential. Even if I don't carry around physical "things" like the soldiers in the story, I carry around the thoughts and images of my past and of the opinions and judgments of my future. Troubles that I dealt with as a teenager follow me into my present life now. Sure, we as teenagers made some stupid mistakes, but there are still a few of them that haunt me even to this day. I have learned that they will never disappear because of how much of an impact it had on me, but I have discovered on my own when it is healthy and harmful to bring them up. I had disagreements with my parents and I saw their viewpoints as outrageous and unfair but I have educated myself to know that they were in the right, while I was in the wrong. That is something that I will go on to pass through my chi...

John Steinbeck Common Themes

Born in 1902 in Salinas, California, Nobel Prize winner, John Steinbeck, was one of the most important writers in America during the 20th century. In his novels, East of Eden, Of Mice and Men, Cannery Row, and In Dubious Battle, Steinbeck explores what it takes for a person to find true happiness in life. Steinbeck addresses the pursuit for happiness in one’s life—the American Dream—, by questioning modern idea of it being achieved through material items and the path people take to accomplish it. Steinbeck also addresses the happiness people find in relationships and how connecting to someone can affect a person’s decisions in life. To communicate his ideas with the reader, Steinbeck creates the storyline of his novels, connecting his themes with his characters. In his novels, John Steinbeck addresses the themes of the American Dream and the importance of relationships through various characters in the stories. In his masterpiece, East of Eden, John Steinbeck’s theme of the American Dream focuses on a person’s desire to make a better life for his or her children. Adam Trask greatly portrays this theme when he tries to start an icebox business: â€Å"Adam was a fool. These know-it-all dreamers always got into trouble†¦People who inherited their money always got into trouble. And if you wanted any proof—just look at how Adam had run his ranch. A fool and his money were soon departed† (East of Eden, p. 438). In the novel, it becomes clear that Adam, among many Americans, believes strongly in the idea that money buys happiness. Adam’s yearning to gain money in his name demonstrates his plan to leave a large inheritance for Aaron and Cal, as his father had done for him and his brother. Ultimately, though, Adam’s business proves a failure, making him one of the many who have fallen to the lure of the American Dream. Furthermore, the brothel owner, Faye, also conveys the desire to create a better life for her child. She displays this theme through her adoption of Cathy: â€Å"’I have to have the money. ’ ‘No, you don’t. ’ ‘Of course I do. Where else could I get it? ’ ‘You could be my daughter†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ ‘†¦But I have to have money. ’ ‘There’s plenty for both of us, Cathy. I could give you as much as you make and more†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢Ã¢â‚¬  (East of Eden, p. 229). Faye’s lack of close friends creates a weakness in her, which Cathy uses to manipulate Faye into seeing her as a daughter figure. As displayed in the quotation, Faye’s newfound motherly sense sparks a need to provide for Cathy. To Faye’s knowledge, Cathy has lived a depressing life and Faye, being sympathetic to Cathy’s cause, wants to create a better life for her. Eventually, Cathy’s manipulation of Faye works and she receives Faye’s inheritance, fulfilling her own American Dream. The importance of relationships in East of Eden also proves to be a theme Steinbeck conveys through his characters. Adam’s brother, Charles, displays the effect relationships can have on someone when he confronts Adam about their Father’s birthday presents: â€Å"What did you do on his birthday? †¦Did you spend six bits or even four bits? You brought him a mongrel pup†¦That dog sleeps in his room. He plays with it while he’s reading. He’s got it all trained. And where’s the knife? ‘Thanks,’ he said, just ‘Thanks. ’† (East of Eden, p. 30). In this quotation, Charles demonstrates the absence of a relationship between him and his father. Although it becomes evident in the novel that Charles’ father does love him, he chooses not to display it, forming the idea in Charles’ mind that no one loves him. Because of his feelings, Charles becomes jealous of Adam, whom their father openly displays affection towards. This draws in Charles an upmost hatred of his own brother, which Charles uses to harm Adam: â€Å"The footsteps came close, slowed, moved on a little, came back. From his hiding place Adam could see only a darkness in the dark†¦Charles raised the match and peered around, and Adam could see the hatchet in his right hand† (East of Eden, p. 1). In this quotation, Charles tries to kill his own brother. As a confused youth, Charles sees killing his brother, whom gets all the affection from their father, as a way to justify the neglect he receives from his father. Charles provides a perfect example of the importance a relationship has, and how not having one can bring out the darkest part of on e’s personality. Whereas he used East of Eden to focus on the American Dream of one’s desire to make a better life for his or her children, Steinbeck uses Of mice and Men to focus on the unachievable aspect of the American Dream. In the novella, George and Lennie convey this theme through their reassurance that they will not have to tend to someone else’s ranch and will soon have there own: â€Å"’O. K. Someday—we’re gonna get the jack together and we’re gonna have a little house and a couple of acres an’ a cow and some pigs and—‘ ‘An’ live off the fatta the lan’,’† (Of Mice and Men, p. 13). Throughout the novella George repeats this line more often and it even acts as one of the few things Lennie remembers. It appears the more times they reassure themselves of this dream, the more it shifts from reality to fantasy. This dream also catches the imagination of other characters in the novel, one being Crooks. Crooks, who naturally does not believe in the luxury of dreaming, becomes transformed by Lennie’s thinking: â€Å"’†¦If you†¦guys would want a hand to work for nothing—just his keep, why I’d come an’ lend a hand’† (Of Mice and Men, p. 73). This quotation suggests every American succumbs to the idea of the American dream. This quotation also suggests the characters that have dreams of a brighter future, like Candy, George, and Lennie, would have nothing without them. Ultimately, through multiple examples in the novel, Steinbeck suggests the American dream acts more of as a motivator rather than a reality. While Steinbeck uses George and Lennie to convey the unachievable American Dream, he also uses them to convey the importance of relationships. Friendship plays a major role in the story development, greatly affecting the actions of George and Lennie. George demonstrates this theme’s effect on him when he talks to Lennie about sticking together: â€Å"‘where the hell could you go? †¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢How’d you eat. You ain’t got sense enough to find nothing to eat. ’ ‘I’d find things, George. I don’t need no nice food with ketchup. ’†¦George looked quickly and searchingly at him. ‘I been mean, ain’t I? ’ (Of Mice and Men, p. 11-12). At first, it seems George regretfully carries the burden of taking care of Lennie, but, when studied further, George sees Lennie more o f as a friend instead of a burden. In this quotation, George displays his friendship when he acknowledges his harshness after he yells at Lennie. George’s friendship with Lennie also becomes evident at the end of the novella where Georges execution of Lennie demonstrates an act of kindness on behalf of their friendship. George, instead of letting Curley give him a long, painful death, gives Lennie a short and painless one. Additionally, the theme of friendship also affects Lennie when he recites part of George and his dream of owning a ranch: â€Å"But not us! An’ why? Because†¦because I got you to look after me and you got me to look after you, and that’s why. ‘†¦we’re gonna have a little house and a couple of acres an’ a cow and some pigs and—‘ ‘An’ live off the fatta the lan’’† (Of Mice and Men, p. 13). This quotation suggests Lennie needs George or else his dream will not be a believable accomplishment. This suggestion helps conclude that Lennie sees George as his friend and guide through life, and, without him, Lennie will no t know what to do with himself or where to go any longer. In Cannery Row, Steinbeck compares the change in the American Dream from the pursuit of happiness to the pursuit of material success. Steinbeck conveys the original meaning of the American Dream through Mack and his boys: â€Å"Mack was the elder, leader, mentor, and to a small extent the exploiter of a little group of men who had in common no family, no money, and no ambitions beyond food, drink and contentment† (Cannery Row, p. 13). Mack and his boys are an example of Americans who understand and are fulfilling what the American Dream originally was: the pursuit of happiness. In the novel, Mack and his boys are in a debt to Lee Chong—which he knows they will never repay—and still happy with the lives they live. Also, Mack and his boys only work when they need necessities to live like food, clothing, or shelter, proving a person does not need to be materially successful to be happy with their lives. While Mack and the Boys are an example of the original American Dream, the Malloys are an example of the changed American Dream. The Malloys demonstrate their need for money to be happy through their longing for more material items: â€Å"Mrs. Malloy had been contented until her husband became a landlord and then she began to change. First it was a rug, then a washtub, then a lamp with a colored silk shade†¦Mr. Malloy sat up on the mattress. ‘Curtains? ’ he demanded. ‘What in God’s name do you want curtains for? ’† (Cannery Row, p. 47). At first, the Malloys started out as homeless people, but then moved into a broken down boiler in between Lee Chong’s and the Bear Flag restaurant. After they had a home and were content, they decided to gain more money by renting out their housing pipes to men as sleeping quarters. Unlike Mack and his boys who gain money for necessities, the Malloys gain money just for having more money and buying unnecessary material things like rugs or silk lampshades, or curtains. Ultimately, Steinbeck proves the original concept of the American Dream can still exist, but the natural greed of humans to want more weakens it. Like Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck uses Cannery Row to examine the affects a developing friendship can have on a person. Characters that convey this theme are Doc and Frankie. The unlikely pair display their friendship when Doc goes to retrieve Frankie from the police station after he gets arrested for robbing a jewelry store: â€Å"‘Frankie—you shouldn’t have done it,’ said Doc. The heavy stone of inevitability was on his heart†¦Ã¢â‚¬ËœFrankie,’ he said, ‘why did you take it? Frankie looked a long time at him. ‘I love you,’ he said. Doc ran out and got in his car and went collecting in the caves below Pt. Lobos† (Cannery Row, p. 164-165). This quotation displays the strong friendship between Doc and Frankie because after Frankie’s mom denies responsibility for him, he cal ls on Doc for help. The friendship between Doc and Frankie almost mirrors the friendship between George and Lennie from Of Mice and Men. Frankie, like Lennie, is a mentally ill character that creates an unexpected friendship with Doc, a man who would seem burdened by Frankie. Like George did for Lennie, Doc tries to help Frankie in his time of need. His single mistake, alongside his mental illness, proved great enough to cloud the judgment of the police, removing from him a second chance in life Frankie only wanted to please his one and only friend, but in doing so, ruined his chances of ever having a future. Ultimately, Frankie’s friendship with Doc made him feel wanted in a society that rejected him. Furthermore, Mack and the boys and Lee Chong also convey the importance of relationships. They convey this theme when Lee rents out his old fish meal shack to the boys: â€Å"And that was the way it was. Everyone was happy about it†¦The windows were not broken. Fire did not break out, and while no rent was every paid, if the tenants every had any money, and quite often they did have, it never occurred to them to spend it at any place except at Lee Chong’s grocery† (Cannery Row, p. 15). When he gave Mack and the boys the shack, Lee not only stopped them from vandalizing his store but also found new friends in them. Although they never paid rent for living in the shack, Mack and the boys supported Lee however they were able to, even though they did not have to do anything. In the end, the friendship between Lee and Mack’s group provided Mack and the boys a shelter to call home and helped protect and improve Lee’s business. In his novel, In Dubious Battle, Steinbeck focuses on the different ways people struggle to achieve the American Dream. Jim Nolan, the first character to convey this theme, displays his struggle when he joins the â€Å"Party† in the beginning of the novel: â€Å"‘Well, why do you want to join, then? ’†¦Ã¢â‚¬ËœIn the jail there were some Party men. They talked to me. Everything’s been a mess, all my life. Their lives weren’t messes. They were working toward something. I want to work toward something. I feel dead. I thought I might get alive again’† (In Dubious Battle, p. 8). Before joining the â€Å"Party† Jim’s life, like many people during the Great Depression, was rough, having lost his job and his parents. As displayed by the quotation, Jim’s purpose for joining the â€Å"Party† was to start a new life to achieve what he saw as the American Dream. During his jail time, Jim observed his fellow inmates and noticed how being in the â€Å"Party† made them happy, and in his mind, achieving happiness means to achieve the American Dream. From what he witnessed in jail, Jim sought to join the â€Å"Party† to accomplish his own idea of the American Dream. Similar to Jim’s endeavor to find happiness, the ongoing battle between the workers and the landowners of the apple orchard also demonstrates the struggle the American Dream brings. London, the voted leader of the strike, expresses this when he talks to the orchard superintendant: â€Å"London said, ‘S’pose we kick ‘em out? Do we get the money we’re strikin’ for? Do we get what we would of got before the cut? ’ ‘No; but you can go back to work with no more trouble. The owners will overlook everything that’s happened†¦You get the men back to work and you’ll get a steady job here as assistant superintendent at five dollars a day’† (In Dubious Battle, p. 101). This quotation demonstrates the struggle between London and the superintendent. As displayed by his dialogue, the superintendent makes it clear he does not care about his workers and only sees them as people he can exploit to make him money. In a way, the superintendent fulfills the requirements someone needs to achieve the American Dream of material success. Although he gets offered a high-paying job, which would allow him to achieve material success, London must still decide whether to leave his fellow workers, or to stick with them in their struggle against the landowners. Ultimately, London declines because of the tension between his poor, working-class and the wealthier class that the superintendent belongs to. While Jim Nolan was used to convey the struggle to achieve the American Dream in In Dubious Battle, Steinbeck also uses him to demonstrate the affects relationships have on individuals. Jim displays the affects relationships have on a person through his involvement with the â€Å"Party† when he takes part in the interrogation of a young boy: â€Å"Jim sat on the mattress and watched. Mac said, ‘Jim, you gave me hell about losing my head a little while ago. I’m not losing it now. ’ ‘It’s O. K. if you’re cold,’ said Jim. ‘I’m a sharpshooter,’ Mac said. ‘You feeling sorry for the kid, Jim? ’ ‘No, he’s not a kid, he’s an example’† (In Dubious Battle, p. 213). In the beginning of the novel, Jim was in search of happiness in life and in an attempt to achieve it he joined the â€Å"Party†. Jim discovers from joining the â€Å"Party† that he has found a family-like relationship among its members, something he was never able to completely have. Although Jim has found a place where he belongs, his involvement with the â€Å"Party† has affected his personality, changing from a caring and sensitive person to a cold and heartless one. Even though Jim calls Mac a cold person, his inability to consider the young boy as a human being proves him to be a cold person as well. Just as Jim’s personality had changed from joining the â€Å"Party,† Mac’s personality changes through his friendship with Jim. The scene after Mac interrogates the young boy demonstrates the affect on Mac from this friendship with Jim: â€Å"He stood still, smiling his cold smile, until London went out of the tent†¦All over his body the muscles shuddered. His face was pale and grey. Jim put his hand over and took him by the wrist. Mac said wearily, ‘I couldn’t of done it if you weren’t here, Jim. Oh, Jesus, you’re hard-boiled. You just looked. You didn’t give a damn’† (In Dubious Battle, p. 214). When Mac began his trip to the apple orchard with Jim, he had a fine line on where he stood with his personal friendship with Jim, acting mainly as Jim’s mentor. However, as Mac started to spend more time with Jim, he started to adapt Jim sensitive personality, opening up to Jim whenever he was caught in a difficult situation. Though as the storyline progressed, Jim’s change in personality started to affect Mac just as it had done in the beginning of the novel. Demonstrated by the young boy’s interrogation, as Jim became more and more cold and heartless, so did Mac. Throughout his novels, East of Eden, Of Mice and Men, Cannery Row, and In Dubious Battle, Steinbeck uses characters to convey the themes of the American Dream and the importance of relationships. By addressing his characters’ desire and struggle to achieve the American Dream, Steinbeck demonstrates the change in the American Dream from being the pursuit of happiness to the pursuit of material success. Steinbeck makes it evident in many of characters, like Mack and the boys from Cannery Row, that achieving the American Dream can fulfill happiness. Although in some cases, like George and Lennie from Of Mice and Men, where he explores the reality that the American Dream can not always be fulfilled, Steinbeck also explores the possibility that some people can accomplish the American Dream. Through his characters, Steinbeck also demonstrates the affect a relationship can have on an individual, bringing out his or her inner personalities. By having a meaningful relationship with another person, an individual has someone whom they can console with during the struggle it takes to achieve happiness. Ultimately, through meaningful relationships, individuals are given the chance to overcome the hard work it takes to accomplish the American Dream.

Major source of macro and micronutrients - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 7 Words: 2205 Downloads: 6 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Statistics Essay Did you like this example? Rice (Oryza sativa (2n = 24) is a monocot plant and belongs to the Poaceae family and Oryzoidea subfamily. It occupies almost one-fifth of the total land area under world cereals. It covers about 148 million hectares annually that is roughly 11 percent of the world-cultivated land. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Major source of macro and micronutrients" essay for you Create order It is life for more than half of humanity and in past, it shaped the cultures, diets, and economies of billions of people in the world (Farooq et al., 2009). More than 90 percent of the worlds rice is grown and consumed in Asia where 60 percent of the world population lives. The world major rice consuming countries are China, India, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, Philippines, Japan, Brazil, South Korea and USA that consume 135, 85, 39, 37, 26, 18, 10, 10, 9.7, 8.7, 8.1, 5.0 and 3.9 million metric ton, respectively (Meng et al., 2005; USDA, 2003-04). Biochemical and nutritional aspects of rice Rice is a major source of macro and micronutrients for human being. It feeds more than two billion people worldwide and is the number one staple food in Asia. It provides over 21 percent of the calorific needs of the worlds population and up to 76 percent of the calorific intake of the population of South East (SE) Asia (Fitzgerald et al., 2009). It is mostly consumed as a polished grain, which usually lacks its nutritional components such as minerals and vitamins 41 P. Lucca et al., Genetic engineering approaches to enrich rice with iron and vitamin A, Physiol. Plant. 126 (2006), pp. 291-303. Full Text via CrossRef | View Record in Scopus | Cited By in Scopus (7)( Lucca et al., 2006). Since the advent of molecular techniques, recently genetically modified rice verities have been developed, which contains more nutritional aspects like minerals and vitamins in endosperm (Vasconcelos et al., 2003; Paine et al., 2005; Fitzgerald et al., 2009). The major value-added nutritional protein c onstituents of the rice. Rice Position in Pakistan In Pakistan, besides its importance as a food crop, rice is the second important component of daily diet of bulk of the population after wheat. About 23% of the total foreign exchange earnings is shared by rice and thus called as Golden Grain of Pakistan (Shah et al., 1999). Around one third of total production is annually exported and two third is locally consumed to meet food needs. Rice is also used in dishes for special occasions (Sagar et al., 1988). Pakistan is the third largest rice exporting country. In Pakistan, rice occupies about 10% of the total cultivated area, accounts for 6.1% of value added in agriculture and 1.3% in gross domestic product. Production of rice during 2007-08 was estimated at 5,540 thousand tones, 10.4% higher than last year with 6.1% increase in yield per hectare (Anonymous, 2006). Area, production and yield of rice for the last 5 years are shown in Fig. 1. Varieties of basmati rice, sub-species of indica, are economically important due to the high quality of the grain and constitute an important source of revenue for two major rice-growing countries in Asia (Pakistan and India). The international market for basmati rice has always been higher than that of the moderate varieties. Pakistans annual rice export stands at about 2.5 million tons, which earn a total of 513.0 million dollars for the country (Anonymous, 1998). During the year 2005-2006 rice export was about one billion US$ (Bashir et al., 2007). Rice growing areas of Pakistan Depending upon the irrigation water availability, rice can be grown in any part of the country from sea level up to 2500m height. Pakistan has a climate and a potential in soil that permits the expectations of a most bright future for the productions of rice. Considering temperature difference, optimum sowing seasons and the varietals performance, rice growing areas can be divided in four ecological zones (Salim et al., 2003; Table-1.2). Rice is grown in all four provinces of Pakistan. However, the acreage under rice varies greatly from one province to another. The Punjab and Sindh are the major rice growing provinces with about 59% and 33%, respectively of the total rice in the country. The remaining 5% of the area is planted in Baulochistan and 3% in NWFP (Bhatti and Anwar, 1994). Despite the fact that its cultivated area is far smaller than wheat (more than 7.24 million), it has a great impact on national economy due to two reasons. Firstly, rice is the only crop which can be grown successfully in vast chunks of salt-ridden and water-logged areas where it facilitates not only the reclamation of land for the cultivation of other crops but also provide food. Secondly, superior quality basmati has a consistently increasing demand in the foreign countries. Consequently, there is a great scope for augmenting the foreign exchange earning by exporting it in bigger quantity. In view of these facts, it is highly desirable to increase the production and improve the quality of rice the quality is particularly more important from the trade view point, as it is instrument entail in increasing and then sustaining the demand in the foreign market in competition with other rising exporting countries. There in no denying the fact that purity is the very sole of quality. The impurities not only restrict the export trade, but also inflict losses to the growers, millers and the consumers alike. Therefore, these should possibly be minimized (Saleem et al., 2003). Major rice varieties in Pakistan More than 20 rice varieties have been released for general cultivation in Pakistan (Bashir et al., 2007). A general description of agronomical and physiochemical characteristics of these varieties. Importance of Basmati Rice in Pakistan There are thousands of rice varieties and landraces, which differ with respect to plant and grain characteristics. Of these, aromatic (Basmati) rice constitutes a small but special group that is regarded as best in grain quality, superior aroma and usually used for special dish preparation (Khush and dela Cruz, 2001). Quality of rice may be considered from the view point of size, shape and appearance of grain, milling quality and cooking properties (Dela Cruz and Khush, 2000). Pakistan is famous for the production and export of Basmati rice. The origin of the word Basmati can be trade to the word Basmati meaning earth recognized by its fragrance. The Hindi word Bas was derived from the Pakrit word BAS and has a Sanskrit root Vassy (Aroma), while Mati originated from Mayup (ingrained from the origin). In common usage Vas is pronounced as Bas and while combining Bas and Mayup, the later changed to Mati thus the word Basmati (Ahuja et al., 1995; Gupta, 1995). The fragrance of basmati rice is most closely associated with the presence of 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (Buttery et al., 1983; Lorieux et al., 1996; Widjaja et al., 1996; Yoshihashi et al., 2002). Although many other compounds are also found in the headspace of fragrant rice varieties (Widjaja et al., 1996) possibly due to secondary effects related to the genetic background of the rice variety, 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline is widely known to be the main cause of the distinctive basmati and jasmine fragrance. The desirability of fragrance has resulted in strong human preference and selection for this trait. Non-fragrant rice varieties contain very low levels of 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline, while the levels in fragrant genotypes are much higher (Widjaja et al., 1996). Basmati rice occupies a prime position in the Indian subcontinent and is becoming increasingly popular in Middle East, Europe, USA and even in non-traditional rice growing countries such as Australia (Bhasin, 2000). High-quality, traditional Basmati rice varieties command premium prices, more than three times that of non-Bamati rices in the world market due to its exquisite aroma, superfine grain characteristics and excellent cooking (extra elongation, soft and flaky texture) qualities (Bhasin, 2000; Singh et al., 2000a; Khush and dela Cruz, 2002). Basmati rice traditionally grown in the Himalayan foothills regions of Pakistan and India, and the name is traditionally associated with this region. Basmati rice is the result of centuries of selection and cultivation by farmers (Khush, 2000). Cultivation of basmati rice in mainly confined to the Kallar tract (Gujranwala, Sheikhupura and Sialkot districts) of Punjab province. Basmati rice always fetch a higher price in the domestic as well as in the international market due to their peculiar quality features such as pleasant aroma, fine grain, extreme grain elongation (7.6mm long) and soft texture on cooking. In spite of hard competition from India, Thailand and the United States, Pakistan enjoys a good position in the global trade of aromatic rice and every year earns a lot of foreign exchange (Akram and Sagar, 1997). Genetic Diversity in Rice Diversity among organisms is a result of variations in DNA sequences and of environmental effects. The diversity in crop varieties is essential for agricultural development for increasing food production, poverty alleviation and promoting economic growth. The available diversity in the germplasm also serves as an insurance against unknown future needs and conditions, thereby contributing to the stability of farming systems at local, national and global levels (Singh et al, 2000). In crop improvement program, genetic variability for agronomic traits as well as quality traits in almost all the crops is important, since this component is transmitted to the next generation (Singh, 1996). Study of genetic divergence among the plant materials is a vital tool to the plant breeders for an efficient choice of parents for plant improvement. Genetically diverse parents are likely to contribute desirable segregants and/or to produce high heterotic crosses. Parents identified on the basis of dive rgence for any breeding program would be more promising (Arunachalam, 1981). In early 1970s, public authorities felt the need that genetic resources should be collected, maintained and conserved, especial focus was on important food crops e.g wheat, rice, barley etc (Hawkes 1983; Bellon et al., 1998; Barry et al., 2007). This was the first official attempt to preserve genetic diversity. Currently different genetic diversity assessment methods including morphological, biochemical and molecular markers are available. Morphological Markers used to study genetic diversity Morphological evaluation is the oldest and considered as the first hand tool for detection of genetic variation in germplasm (Smith and Smith, 1989). It is cheap and convenient. It requires not any in depth knowledge at genomic or proteomic level. However, morphological markers are relatively less effective for genetic diversity analysis due to sensitivity to environmental influences and developmental stage of the plant (Werlemark et al., 1999). It takes long time, requires seasonal changes and quite laborious. The genetic variability for some of the traits needed for high yield performance and stress tolerance is limited in cultivated germplasm. This is because a small core of adapted progenitors has been used repeatedly in rice breeding programs such that the genetic base of rice has become narrow (Moncada et al. 2001; Hargrove et al. 1980; Dilday 1990). Introgression of genes from other rice species can provide genetic variation to improve rice and meet the challenges affecting ri ce production. Morphological traits including both qualitative and quantitative ones are used to evaluate genetic relationship among genotypes (Goodman 1972; Bajracharya et al., 2006). Fida et al. (1995) reported the evaluation of elite rice genotypes for agronomic traits during 1992 at NARC, Islamabad. All the genotypes possessed similar grain quality. Agronomic evaluation was used for screening of lines with desired performance by Akram et al. (1995), in field leading to the identification of varieties possessing longer and fine grains as donors for utilization in breeding programmes aimed for the improvement of grain length in Basmati rice. Iqbal et al. (2001) morphologically evaluated selected landraces for paddy yield and other important agronomic traits as a propose to select parents for hybridization program. All the landraces possessed some desirable agronomic traits so these proved effective in rice breeding programmes. Koutroubas et al. (2004) described variation in grain quality traits among some European rice lines. They concluded that these lines could be used as parents for introgression of desired traits into different rice cultivars grown in Europe. They also suggested that the interrelations among grain quality traits found in these lines could be useful to study the relationship among their grain quality components and for improving selection criteria. Nabeela et al. (2004) evaluated fifteen agronomical important traits in landrace genotypes of rice collected from various parts of Pakistan. A significant amount of genetic variation was displayed for most of the traits examined. The coefficient of variation was more than 10% for all the characters with exception of grain length. Seven accessions with best performance for individual character were identified, by exploiting their genetic potential. These genotypes can have a beneficial use in the breeding programs. Nepali rice landrace diversity was evaluated by Bajracharya et al. (2005) by usin g morphological traits as one of the parameter for selection. The genotypes varied only for few quantitative traits controlled by major genes; husk color, seed coat and panicle traits. Agronomic characterization also helped to decide which traits need to be improved for further crop improvements. Zaman et al. (2005) studied fifteen different rice varieties which showed that the different morphological characteristics such as the yield, tiller number per hill and filled grains per panicle did not contribute towards the total divergence. This suggested that the breeding improvement of these morphological characteristics have the little possibility. Little phenotypic variation at farm level was observed in Vietnamese rice by Fukuoka et al. 2006, which was considered to be the result of genetic drift and selection by the farmers, on farm conservation of the landraces of rice is considered to be under a force to decrease phenotypic diversity. Different phenotypic profiles contribute to t he conservation of regional genetic diversity of the landraces of rice. Veasey and colleagues (2008) investigated the genetic variability among different rice species from South in a greenhouse experiment. They showed a significant difference (p