1.What is the most effective intervention to decrease VAP in terms of Research Paper

1.What is the most effective intervention to decrease VAP in terms of using antiseptic chlorhexidine oral care versus standard toothbrush oral care - Research Paper Example Nursing is a critical area in the healthcare sector, hence the need to embrace its significance in the treatment process. This research will analyze the most effective intervention to decrease VAP in adult ICU. To achieve the best results, it will utilize the PICOT analysis is the attainment of the research objective. The first article to examine is by GU, Gong, Pan, Ni, & Liu (2012) that carried out a meta-analysis of the impacts of oral hygiene on the VAP for critically ill patients. In their study, GU, Gong, Pan, Ni, & Liu (2012) noted that oral hygiene did not show significant variation in VAP condition for ill patients who had mechanical ventilation who used toothbrush and those who did not. In addition, the study revealed that the toothbrushing did not have significant results in reducing the mortality rate, the hospital length of stay during both the antibiotics free day and also the mechanical ventilation free day of the study. There is a contradiction with the findings of this study with those of the previous studies. In the 828 patients used in this study show that there was no significant variation in changes when oral hygiene was practiced and when it was not in the control of VAP. However, then it is viewed, discussed that the use of oral hygiene with purified water was effective in controlling the chances for the occurrence of VAP in critically ill patients. This research contradicted the previous research where oral hygiene for patients in the ICUs would significantly reduce the chances of VAP infection for the patients who are under mechanical ventilation. On the other hand, the study conducted by Cindy, et al (2009) found out that VAP increases the cost of health care, morbidity, and mortality of the patients in the intensive care units. In addition, the study found that there is a significant reduction in VAP infection through

Pre-Ib Geography Exam Review Essay Example for Free

Pre-Ib Geography Exam Review Essay Angular Bearing: measured in degrees in a clockwise direction from the north; written as 3 figures (i. e. 90) * Military Grid (4 amp; 6 digit) * System of numbered lines; position stated by quoting numbers of the lines that intersect at the point in question * Easting Northing ; EAST TENTH NORTH TENTH * Contour line: a way of showing elevation; usually brown lines * Steep areas – very close contour lines, gentle areas – very wide contour lines * Latitude/Longitude * Latitude 0 °: Equator|23. 5 °N: Tropic of Cancer | 23.  ° S: Tropic of Capricorn * Longitude 0 °: Prime Meridian | 180 °: International Date Line * Scale different types; conversions Linear Scale| Representative Fraction Scale| Direct Statement Scale| * | * 1:50 000| * 1 cm to 10 km| * 1 km = 100 000 cm * Time Zones – know them amp; how to calculate time zone from one zone to another * From west – east: Pacific, Mountain, Central, Eastern, Atlantic, Newfoundland * Plus 1 hour, as y ou travel from west to east Global Positioning System (GPS) – what is it? How do you use it? * Revolutionary navigation system; provide location with metres or less anywhere on the globe * Canada Map: Unit 3 * Geologic time-line (eras amp; major developments in each) * Precambrian Era: the earth is formed; Canadian shield is formed; bacteria amp; algae – only life forms * Paleozoic Era: the continents straddle the equator; first insects appear; Pangaea is formed * Mesozoic Era: Dinosaurs rule the earth; first bird amp; mammals appear * Cenozoic Era: Dinosaurs go extinct; first Hominids appear; first humans reach North America * Continental Drift amp; Plate Tectonics * Continental drift (Alfred Wegener): 300 million years ago, all of the earth’s land masses, which were in constant motion, collided to form one supercontinent: Pangaea; could not explain how continents moved * Evidence: shape of the continents; Fossil Evidence; Rock Evidence; Glacial Deposits; Location of Coal Deposits * Plate tectonics (Canadian J. Tuzo. Wilson): the earth’s crust is divided into 12 major plates which moved in various directions by the underlaying hot mantle convection cells (mid-atlantic ridge) * Types of precipitations – Relief/Orographic precipitation; Cyclonic/Frontal precipitation; Convectional precipitation * Relief/Orographic precipitation: only in mountainous regions * Moist air rise up the windward slope amp; condenses as it rises amp; cools * Cool air descends on the leeward slope, warms up, drier climate because the clouds evaporate * Cyclonic/Frontal precipitation: only in places with hot summers +20 °C (continental areas) * The sun heats up the ground, warm air rises; condensing amp; forming clouds amp; precipitation. * As the storm persists, the air cools amp; drags down, bringing the storm to an end. * Convectional precipitation: happens in most places * Air masses of different pressure amp; temperatures don’t mix. * The warmer air will rise above the colder, dense one, creating precipitation. Gradual upward movement=mild precipitation; Sharp upward movement=thunderstorm, hail * Landforms: the natural features on the surface of the Earth (Canadian Shield, lowlands, highlands) What are they? | Development of landforms| How do they or will they contribute to Canada| Canadian Shield (largest amp; oldest landform region)PRECAMBRIAN| * Pressure inside Earth folded amp; crumpled the Metamorphic rock * Minerals in shield rock cooled amp; separated into layers according to their density * Intense heat amp; pressure changed the rocks * Erosion worn down mountains = flat * Ice age eroded amp; created lakes, depressions amp; valleys| * Not much farming thin layer of soil; little fertile land * Vast deposits of lead, gold, nickel, copper, zinc, etc. Mining communities drawn here; communities rely on the mining industry for jobs * Rich diamond deposits; Water for hydroelectric energy * Recreation, tourism, â€Å"get back to nature†, canoe| Appalachian Mountains (oldest highland region)PALEOZOIC| * End Paleozoic Era, North America collided with europe amp; northern Africa during the formation of Pangaea * Raised amp; folded layers of sedimentary, Igneous/metamorphic created from volcanoes amp; earthquake s * Erosion reduced jagged peaks to rounded hills amp; mountains * Glaciers smoothed peaks amp; separated hills with wide glacial valleys | * Sedimentary rich in non-metallic materials, i. e. coal * Igneous/Metamorphic rich in metallic minerals, i. e. iron amp; zinc created by volcanic activity amp; faulting * Long bays created from ice age, for deep harbours for ocean freighters amp; became site of major cities * Settlement along fertile river valleys amp; along seacoast| Innuitian Mountains (most northern region)MESOZOIC| * Formed in Mesozoic era; North American plate moved northward. Continental-continental convergence * Contain some igneous amp; metamorphic, but mainly sedimentary * Younger than Appalachians, not worn down as much| * Barren; trees can’t survive extremely cold winter temperatures; can’t grow during short summer * Covered by ice amp; permanent snow * Minerals not exploited because if remote location| Western CordilleraLATE MESOZOICEARLYCENOZOICCoast mountainsInterior plateausEastern Mountains| * Range after range of mountains separated by plateaus amp; valleys * Pacific plate amp; North American plate collided * Uplifting region into several mountain regions * Convergent; pacific plate subducted under North American causing folding, faulting, amp; volcanic activity * Great height + rugged appearance = geologically young| * North-south mountains amp; valleys = obstacle for transportation since main routes are west=south * Farming amp; mining towns in river valleys * Tourism(beautiful scenery); winter sports * Fishing(salmon); gold rush; energy resources * Copper, forestry, rocks, coal, fossil fuels| Interior PlainsPALEOZOIC + MESOZOICAlberta PlainsSaskatchewan PlainsManitoba Plains| * 545 million years ago; during formation, covered by inland seas, sediments deposited amp; compressed into sedimentary * Thick layers of mineral deposits left in dried-out sea beds * Composed of rolling hills amp; deep, wide river valleys * Differential erosion separated by escarpment * Glaciations created large lakes covered by sediments = flat| * Reafs from inland seas form oil amp; gas found today * Potash mined amp; used as fertilizer * Swamps at edge of ancient seas changed into coal * Soil developed on sediments of lake bottom deep fertile, good for growing grai ns amp; oil seeds * Agricultural amp; beef products | Great Lakes / St. Lawrence Lowlands(most southerly region)PALEOZOIC| * During Paleozoic era, glacier retreated which left 5 great lakes * Bedrock formed from sedimentary rock; several escarpments * Glaciations created rolling landscape, carried huge amounts of soil, sand amp; gravel from Canadian shield, dumped throughout region * Flat plains, glacial hills, amp; deep river valleys * Rift valley formed by faulting; flooded during end of ice age| * Good for agriculture; excellent soils amp; warm climate * Flat lands; ideal for transportation routes amp; development of cities (50% of canadians live in small) * 70% of country’s manufacturing industries * Maple syrup, forestry, mining, fishery, water supply, * Sheep, poultry, dairy, logging – lumber, paper| Hudson Bay Arctic LowlandsPALEOZOIC + PRECAMBRIAN + MESOZOIC PALEOZOIC + CENOZOIC| * Layers of sedimentary rock rest on top of ancient rock of Shield * Waters of Hudson Bay covered lowland amp; deposited sand, silt, amp; clay that became layer of sedimentary rock * A series of islands located in far north, gently rolling landscape * Bodies of water continues to deposit deep basins of sedimentary along east amp; west coasts (Paleozoic era) * Receding glaciers left sedimentary rock (Cenozoic)| * HB- mining, march, wetlands, plains * AL-Not good for farming, harsh climate * Rich in furs due to abundance of wildlife * Water resources provide hydro power for Ontario * Contain lignite, coal, oil, amp; natural deposits * Game, fishing| * Climate: weather conditions of a place averaged over a long period of time * Factors affecting Climate (LOWERN) * Latitude: Significant differences in average annual temperatures; distance from the equator a key factor. * The same amount of energy from the sun that hits Earth is spread over a large areas at northerly ocation because of th earth’s curve; the same amount of energy is more concentrated at the equator * Most southerly pointPelee Island; Most northerly pointAlert * Ocean Currents: The temperature of an ocean current affects the temperature of the air passing over it. * Warm– warm air – the mild climate of B. C. ; Cold– cold air – Labrador amp; nor thern Newfoundland * Where air above two currents meet, conditions are often damp amp; foggy. * Winds amp; Air Masses * Air Masses: large volume of air with the climate conditions of the area where it is formed. * Over ocean moist; as air masses pass over land=in precipitation; over continental area will generally be dry. * Winds amp; Pressure Systems * Air moves from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure, this causes wind. Prevailing Winds: around the earth, there are pressure belts which cause wind patterns. * Westerlies: over Canada, the winds tends to move from the west to east . * Polar Front: the boundary between the cold, dry, polar air amp; warm, wet, tropical air. * Jet Stream: high in the atmosphere above the polar front is a current of fast-moving air. * In winter=moves southward, cold arctic air into the U. S. * In summer=moves northward, warm air from the Gulf of Mexico to flow farther northward into Canada’s interior. * Cold air masses amp; warm air masses that meet at the polar front often create storms. * Elevation: height of land above sea level Air mass moves up a mountain= expands since there is less pressure; as it expands=loses heat amp; becomes cooler. * Relief: the affect that mountain ranges act as barriers to climate systems * Result in greatly differing temperatures in different cities that are close to each other but separated by mountains. * Windward side of rocky mountains=more precipitation; leeward side of rocky mountains= precipitation. * Nearness to body of water: Bodies of water have a moderating effect on land temperatures. * Oceans amp; large lakes heat up amp; cool down more slowly than land masses. * Results in cooler summers amp; warmer winters. * Maritime vs. Continental climate * Maritime| * Continental| Total annual precipitation of over 1000 mm| * Total annual precipitation of less than 1000 mm| * A temperature range of less than 25C °| * A temperature range of more than 25C °| * Winter: Season of Maximum Precipitation| * Summer: Season of Maximum Precipitation| * Soil make-up (MOMA) * Minerals; Organic material amp; bacteria; Moisture; Air * Vegetation * Tree line: boundary between the Tundra amp; the Boreal Forest zone; North of this line, it is too cold for trees to grow. * Permafrost: permanently frozen ground that does not completely thaw in the summer. * Active layer: upper layer of permafrost that thaws only briefly in summertime Unit 4 Demography: study of human population dynamics, population numbers, distribution, trends, amp; issues that looks at how populations change over time due to births, deaths, migration amp; ageing. * Push/pull factors – what are they? Be able to identify them * Push factors: factors that causes people to emigrate from their country (i. e. war, absence of human rights, poor economic/educational opportunities, religious persecution, terrorism, amp; natural disasters) * Pull factors: factors that draws immigrants to a country (i. e. job opportunities, freedom of speech amp; religion, lower taxes, better education amp; health care, better climate, join friends/relatives living in another country ) * Immigration – benefits amp; drawbacks Benefits| Drawbacks| Declining fertility amp; population=severe labour shortages; * Fiscal burden of aging population; scarce staff-nursing homes amp; retirement facilities * Replace baby boomers jobs; fill jobs Canadians don’t want; temporary jobs during harvest time * High-skilled-innovate higher rate than canadians; low-skilled- meet crucial service sector gaps * More global prosperity than foreign aid/international trade; revolutionize Canada’s foreign aid policy| * Short term expediency; political gain * Stress on schools to take in new students * Little cultural communities formed * Lack of culture belonging * Competition for jobs of Canadians| * Types of immigrants (3 types) * Economic Immigrants Skilled Worker/ Professional: 67 points (government adjust; make sure immigrants meet Canada’s economic needs) * Business Immigrant: 37 points (show willingness/ability-make significant financial contributions to economy) * Family Immigrants (Allows Canadian residents to reunite with family members) * Every family immigrant must be sponsored by relative in Canada (provide housing amp; other needs for 3-10 years, if immigrant runs into financial difficulty, they need to help them) * Refugee (Apply for refugee status while in Canada as visitors/living in home country) * Fears cruel or inhumane treatment in their home country ( persecution-race, religion, nationality, political opinion) * Special category includes victims of natural disasters (storms, earthquakes), amp; human disasters (war, famine) * Points system – what are points given for? Who does it apply to? Education: High School, University/college (diploma, bachelor, doctorate, master’s degree)_______________Economic * Language ability: English/French (high/moderate/basic/no

Concepts of Monopoly and Competition

Concepts of Monopoly and Competition Monopolistic competition is a particular market structure which means there are a large number of small firms and companies whose products and services are slightly differentiated with other competitors. (Stephen, I Stuart, W. 2007: 147) Such as food market, apparel market, light industry product market. The characteristics of monopolistic competition can divided into several parts. As Hunter (1969:19) said, to begin with, product differentiation includes both internal and external differences. Internal differences contain quality, capability and so on. External differences contain packing, advertising and so on. Moreover, the consumption of firms and industries are more. In addition, it is more easily for companies to enter the market due to no requirement for too much investment and no need for high technology. Furthermore, manufactures have a slight impact on prices which causes high influence in short run and low influence in long run. Last of all, they face the downward sloping section of its curve which means the elasticity is less than perfect competitive market and more than pure monopolistic market. Monopolistic competition is also called imperfect competition that combines the characteristics both of perfect competition and monopoly. In perfect competition, goods and services are identical so that firms can entry freely. In contrast, pure monopoly just has a single seller because their goods are unique and firms who have monopolistic power are as a price maker. Unlike these two structures, monopolistic competition has its own features between them. Long run defined that in a long period of time, whole scale of production can be varied. Normal profit is the minimum amount required to keep a firm in its current line of production. Monopolistic competition in the long run allows firms enter and exit until they are making exactly zero economic profit. From the diagram, it is easily to see the existence of supernormal profit gives much more freedom to the industry who wants to enter, and then the competition makes firms earn normal profit in the long run. To analyze the figures, firstly, consumers need to pay higher price than that paid in perfect competition because of the average cost curve is above the minimum point. (Stephen, I Stuart, W. 2007: 149)Secondly, price exceeds marginal cost which leads to more profit for the monopolistically competitive firm. Thirdly, there is excess capacity in the monopolistic competition in the long run. E which shows that the average cost curve is tangential to the demand curve is a balanced poin t. F shows the average cost at the minimum level. This situation causes the demand and marginal revenue curves move to the left. (Stephen, I Stuart, W. 2007: 149)While at the same time, the market system reaches the equilibrium which illustrates that no encouragement for new firms to entry and no encouragement for former companies exit. What is most important is to analyze the process of the monopolistic competition in the long run. There is an explanation illustrates that the super profits induce other firms to enter, because of barriers is small, other manufactures can through the imitation and innovation to start making a profit market faces decline in demand. As a result, the curve happen a movement in order to become more elastic and flexible. (Huge, G. Ray, R. 2004:187) Assume there is no changeable for cost curve and move the demand curve to the balanced point which is tangential to the average cost, until the prices equals to costs, resulting in profits for the long run equilibrium state of zero. There are many possible reasons for why monopolistic competitive market structure can only make normal profit. For example, first and foremost, the main reason for that is the supply increases, but at the same time the demand of products or services are stay in the same level, so there are surplus for industries. In order to sell products, supplier will decrease the price which may gives them chances to attract consumers and put losses to a minimum. When the prices fall as same as the cost, firms can just get the normal profit. (Shepherd, W. G. Shepherd, J. M. 2004:43)In addition, more and more firms enter the market system, because it is easy and no barriers so that firms are just do like other former firms, as time goes by, no innovation causes consumers do not have any more demand for goods which also lead the decreased price. Furthermore, in the long run, on the one hand, firms can not easily to cancel the large amount of investment. On the other hand, firms need to change all f actors of production to get more capacity which is very difficult. Last but not at least, although the products of monopolistic competition are different from each other but they still can be instead of other products. If other firms which can produce better quality goods appear, people will more likely to buy. In this situation, old firms need to change their price into low degree so that they can make sure their losses are in a minimum point. Hunter (1969:161) emphasizes that a company just make normal profit can continue its business. The key points to keep balance are demand curve is tangential to average cost, Po=AC and MR=MC. For instance, real estate market now is belonging to monopolistic competitive market. There are many kinds of real estate market which are different but still have some similarities. In these markets which have smaller differences between each other, there will be more competitions. Most of the real estate sellers try to get power to close to monopoly which can reduce more competitions. Change the quality of goods and rise up the promotion are two methods that always seen in society. But just in a short run, they can get abnormal profit unless they become pure monopoly. To conclude, monopolistic competition is a special market structure which related to its features and characteristics. The profit they can make in long run is only the normal profit which depends on the reasons above. It is a nature process and phenomenon. References: Hunter, A. (1969). Monopoly and competition. Penguin, Harmondsworth. Huge, G. Ray, R. ( 2004). Microeconomics. Harlow: Prentice Hall/ Financial Times. Stephen, I. Stuart, W. (2007). Economics. Great Britain, Ashford Colour Press, Hampshire. Shepherd, W. G. Shepherd, J. M. (2004). The economics of industrial organization. Long Grove, Ill.: Waveland Press.

Comparing Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer Essay -- comparison compare

Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn follows a young boy named Huck through his adventures down the Mississippi River. Through the adventures and obstacles he faces and overcomes with Jim, a loyal run-away slave, Huck changes and becomes more mature. He is no longer the careless, prank playing boy that ran around and had fun at other people's expense. Near the end of his life-changing journey down the Mississippi, Huck is reunited with his idol and close friend Tom Sawyer and these once very similar boys now have many obvious differences. Huck differs from Tom in his way of thinking, in his treatment and attitude towards Jim, and in his tendency to question his surroundings. Huck sees and interprets the world realistically and in practical terms whereas Tom, a true romantic, believes the world operates like the stories in his books. A great example of their contrasting ways of thinking is in their differing approaches to rescue Jim from his imprisonment. Huck plans to simply steal the key, get Jim out, run to the canoe, and escape down the river on the raft. Huck's plan to get Jim out of captivity is straightforward, simple, and effective. Tom, however, complains that "its too blame simple," and that "there ain't nothing to it"(224). Tom's plan is complicated and full of unnecessary additions because of his stubborn adherence to the romantic scenarios that he reads in his novels. Tom believes there is "honor in getting [Jim] out through a lot of difficulties and dangers,"(230) and he goes out of his way to invent obstacles to make the situation more difficult and more like the stories he grew up on. He unnecessarily invents hard rock to dig t hrough, a tall tower to climb down from, an infested ... ...t the change that Huck undergoes. Without Tom, an unchanged character that Huck once modeled himself after, the reader cannot correctly judge how much Huck changed from his experiences down the river and how genuinely good Huck has become. After spending so much time with Jim and discovering Jim's real character and personality, Huck acquire new understanding, compassion, and respect for him. He can now see past the color of his skin and treat Jim as a human being. Although he will never consider Jim as an equal, he has already taken momentous steps towards realizing that the slave institution is unjust. Huck has gone beyond anybody in his society and has become free of the limitations that the southern society has placed on thought. He has become nearly the opposite of Tom, who is the perfect embodiment of the southern lifestyle and way of thinking. Â  

Essay about Madagascar Essay

Madagascar is the worlds fourth largest island located 20 ° N and 47 ° E, just off the shore of Mozambique (Southern Africa). The area of the island is 587,040 kilometers â€Å", with 4,828 kilometers of coastline, and it is slightly larger than twice the size of Arizona. Madagascar is a high plateau with a narrow coastal plain and mountains on the top. Their main natural resources consist of graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish, and hydropower. The land is 4.41% arable land, .093% is permanent crops, and 94.66% other. Madagascar has a population of 16,979,744 people, which means there is 30 people per square kilometer. Of the population 45% of people are between 0-14 years, 51.9% of people are between 15-64 years, and 3.1% of people are 64 and over. The population growth rate is 3.03% per year, the birth rate is 42.16 births per 1000 population per year, and the death rate is 11.88 deaths per 1000 population per year. The life expectancy for people of Madagascar is 53.86 for males and 58.53 for females. The rate for the number of people over 15 who can read and right is 68.9% The official name of Madagascar is the Republic of Madagascar. The official languages are French and Malagasy (Native). The main religions are 52% Local-Traditional Beliefs, 41% are Christian, and 7% are Islamic. Their type of government is a republic, in which their capital is located in Antananarivo. Madagascar divides the country into 6 provinces they are, Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, and Tolaira. Madagascar was formerly an independent kingdom before the 1880s. Madagascar became a French colony in 1886, but regained its independence in 1960. During 1992-93, free Presidential and National Assembly elections were held, ending 17 years of single-party rule. In 1997, in the second presidential race, Didier Ratsiraka, the leader during the 1970s and 1980s, was returned to the presidency. The 2001 presidential election was contested between the followers of Didier Ratsiraka and Marc Ravalomanana, nearly causing secession of half of the country. In April 2002, the High Constitutional Court announced Ravalomanana the winner. Their constitution was approved August 19, 1992 by national referendum. The Madagascar constitution establishes separation of powers among executive, legislative, and judicial branches with a multi-party political system. The president is elected by universal suffrage (anyone 18 or over) for a five year term with a two-term limit. Prime minister is nominated by bicameral parliament composed of Senate and National Assembly, and approved by the president. Supreme Court has eleven members and forms apex of other judicial bodies. Local government consists of twenty-eight regions with decentralized powers in economic field. In the first legislative elections of Third Republic in 1993 more than 120 political parties entered 4,000 candidates for 138 seats. Proportional representation list system encourages candidacies. Madagascar is a member of Agency for the French-Speaking Community (ACCT), African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States (ACP), African Development Bank (AfDB), Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Food and Agriculture organization (FAO), Group of 77 (G-77), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank) (IBRD), International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), International Criminal Court (ICFTU)(Signatory), International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (ICRM), International Development Association (IDA), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), International Finance Corporation (IFC), International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS), International Labor Organization (ILO), International Monetary Fund (IMF), International Maritime Organization (IMO), Indian Ocean Commission (InOC), International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), International Olympic Committee (IOC); International Organization for Migration (IOM), Nonaligned Movement (NAM), Organization of African Unity (OAU), United Nations (UN), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Universal Postal Union (UPU), World Confederation of Labor (WCL), World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), World Meteorological Organization (WMO), World Tourism Organization (WToO), and World Trade  Organization (WTrO). Having discarded past socialist economic policies, Madagascar has since the mid 1990s followed a World Bank and IMF led policy of privatization and liberalization, which has placed the country on a slow and steady growth path. Agriculture, including fishing and forestry, is a mainstay of the economy, accounting for one-fourth of GDP and employing four-fifths of the population. Export earnings primarily are earned in the small industrial sector, which features textile manufacturing and agriculture processing. Deforestation and erosion, aggravated by the use of firewood as the primary source of fuel are serious concerns. The separatist political crisis of 2002 undermined macroeconomic stability, with the estimated drop in output being subject to a wide margin of error. Poverty reduction will be the centerpiece of economic policy for the next few years, seines how the 71% of the population are below the poverty line. Of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year, the value comes from 63% services, 25% agriculture, and 12% industry. Services consist of the telephone system, air and rail transportation, tourism, and retail sale. Industry consists of meat processing, soap, breweries, tanneries, sugar, textiles, glassware, cement, automobile assembly, paper, petroleum. Agricultural produces mostly coffee, vanilla, shellfish, sugar, cotton, mining, and petroleum products. A unique blend of African and Asian landscapes and cultures is usually one of the first things recognized by first-time travelers to Madagascar. In the zebu cattle-raising regions of the south and west, for example, the savannas resemble those of East Africa. In the central highlands, however, irrigated and terraced rice fields evoke images of Southeast Asia. These contrasting images lie at the heart of an ongoing debate over the origins of the Malagasy people. According to one theory, peoples from the Indonesian archipelago migrated along the coast of south Asia, across the Arabian Peninsula into the east coast of Africa and, finally, across the Mozambique Channel into present-day Madagascar. This movement occurred over several generations and, because of the gradual interaction between Asian and African populations, led to the  arrival and eventual implantation of a distinct Malagasy people and culture. A second theory emphasizes the diversity of the peoples inhabiting Madagascar. Simply put, proponents argue that the Malagasy resulted from a series of migrations by different peoples over time. According to this theory, migrants from the Indonesian archipelago arrived first and eventually settled in the central highlands, followed by the arrival of African peoples as a result of normal migrational trends and the rise of the slave trade. Recent scholarship has suggested that perhaps the theories are complementary, with greater emphasis b eing placed on the first. Scholars traditionally have described Madagascar as being divided into eighteen or twenty ethnic groups, each with its own distinct territory; political developments in the contemporary period are often described in terms of ethnic conflict. Yet ethnicity is potentially misleading in the Malagasy context because it connotes a more or less self-sufficient and unique cultural, socioeconomic, and historically united group that perceives itself as being different from other groups. Another potentially valuable method of analyzing Malagasy society is to differentiate between the so-called cotiers, or peoples living in coastal areas, and those who live in the central highlands. Indeed, scholars have noted in recent years that the salience of ethnic group identity has declined, while the division between the central highlands peoples and the cotiers continues to be of great importance in understanding social and political competition. Although many observers equate the term central highlander with the Merina ethnic group (once again suggesting the importance of ethnicity), it is important to note that the Betsileo people also live within this region, and the Merina themselves have settled in other regions of the country. Equally important, many cotiers do not live anywhere near the coast. In this sense, the central highlands/cotier split is best understood as the historical outcome of the domination of the Merina empire, the original center of which was Imerina (a round the city of Antananarivo) and was located in the central highlands.

Why Teens Do Drugs essays

Why Teens Do Drugs essays Todays teens have many decisions to face that other generations never had to face. Their peers, their family, and the media have the biggest influence on their lives. They have to make decisions that could end or hurt their life the first time they do it. I am going to tell you why teens do drugs, what drugs are the most common, what effects the drugs have on their bodys, and how many teens are actually doing drugs. There are many reasons why teens chose to turn to drugs as an option. It could be because they have a bad home life and need a way out. Another reason could be because they think that it is cool, but it isnt and some people look down on it. They might not know the effects that it has on your body and how it could kill you with one usage. They could just do it to get in with the so-called popular group and think that it will get more people to think that they are cool. The number one reason why teens chose to do drugs is because one of their friends is doing it and they offer it to them, this is called peer pressure and it is the number one reason why teens do drugs. Those are a few reasons why teens chose to do drugs in modern society. Marijuana is the first drug that I am going to talk about. This drug is the most common drug that is abused in the United States. (Source: national institute on drug abuse (nida). Most teens think that this drug is harmless but actually it isnt, this drug can result in loss of memory and difficulty to learn or concentrate. The number one thing that is misleading is that it is good for you when actually it has more cancer causing ingredients than tobacco has. ...