macrobiotics Dietary practice based on the Chinese philosophy of bal¬ ancing yin and yang (see yin-yang). It stresses avoiding foods that are classified as strongly yin (e.g., alcoholic beverages) or yang (e.g., meat) and relying mainly on near-neutral foods such as grains. In addition, foods
that grow naturally in one’s climate should be the mainstay of one’s diet. Macrobiotics was first articulated in Asia in the 1930s and swept Europe and the U.S. in the late 1960s. Adherents maintain that not only can the quality of life be enhanced but that serious ailments such as cancer can be healed; critics counter that uninformed attempts to practice such a diet can lead to malnutrition.
macroeconomics Study of the entire economy in terms of the total amount of goods and services produced, total income earned, level of employment of productive resources, and general behaviour of prices. Until the 1930s, most economic analysis focused on specific firms and industries. The aftermath of the Great Depression and the development of national income and production statistics brought new interest to the field of macroeconomics. The goals of macroeconomic policy include economic growth, price stability, and full employment. See also microeconomics;
NATIONAL INCOME ACCOUNTING.
macromolecule Any very large molecule, composed of much larger numbers (hundreds or thousands) of atoms than ordinary molecules. Some macromolecules are individual entities that cannot be subdivided without losing their identity (e.g., certain proteins, with molecular weights into the millions). Others (polymers) are multiples of a repeating building block (monomer) in chains or networks (e.g., plastics, cellulose). Most macro¬ molecules are in the size range typical of colloids.
macular degeneration Degeneration of the macula (central part of the retina), with corresponding visual-field defect. It is the leading cause of blindness in old age. Probably due to reduced blood circulation, it is now known to have a genetic component. It is twice as common in smokers as in nonsmokers, and it is also correlated with lifelong sun exposure. Peripheral vision usually remains, but loss of central visual acuity makes reading or fine work difficult or impossible, even with special magnify¬ ing eyeglasses. Some forms of macular degeneration can be halted (but not reversed) by laser surgery.
Macumba Vmo-'kum-boX Afro-Brazilian religion characterized by the syncretism of traditional African religions, Brazilian spiritualism, and Roman Catholicism. Of the several Macumba sects in Brazil, the most important are Candomble and Umbanda. African elements include an outdoor cer¬ emonial site, the sacrifice of animals (e.g., cocks), spirit offerings (e.g., candles and flowers), and dances. Macumba rites are led by mediums, who fall prostrate in trances and communicate with holy spirits. Roman Catholic elements include the cross and the worship of saints, who are given African names.
Macy & Co. in full R.H. Macy & Co., Inc. Major U.S. department- store chain. Its main outlet, the 11-story store that occupies a city block in New York City’s Herald Square, was for many years the largest single store in the country. Rowland H. Macy (18227-1877) established the business in 1858; its red star trademark was derived from a tattoo he bore. The Straus family acquired part interest in the company in 1887, took full control in 1896, and expanded the business by purchasing or building branch stores around the country. Forced into bankruptcy in 1992, Macy’s agreed to a merger with Federated Department Stores, Inc. in 1994.
mad cow disease or bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) Vspon-ji-.form-in-.-sef-o-Tap-o-theN Fatal neurodegenerative dis¬ ease of cattle. Symptoms include behavioral changes (e.g., agitation), gradual loss of coordination and locomotive function, and, in advanced stages, weight loss, fine muscular contractions, and abnormal gait. Brain tissue becomes pitted with holes and spongy. Death usually follows within a year. The disease is similar to the neurodegenerative disease of sheep called scrapie. No treatment is known. A BSE epidemic in Britain that began in the mid-1980s is believed to have been caused by the use of cattle feed containing supplements made from ruminant carcasses and trimmings. Hundreds of thousands of infected cattle were slaughtered and the use of animal-derived protein supplements ended. The cause of both BSE and scrapie is attributed to an infectious aberrant protein called a prion. The unusual occurrence of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, another prion- related illness, in young people beginning in the mid-1990s may be linked to eating meat from cattle with BSE.
Madagascar officially Republic of Madagascar Country, occu¬ pying the island of Madagascar, in the western Indian Ocean off the south¬ east coast of Africa. The island is the world’s fourth largest, about 975 mi (1,570 km) long and 355 mi (570 km) wide. It is separated from the Afri¬ can coast by the Mozambique Channel. Area: 226,658 sq mi (587,041 sq
© 2006 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
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MADAGASCAR
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Capitaclass="underline" Antananarivo. Almost all of the population belongs to about 20 Malayo- Indonesian groups. Languages: Malagasy,
French. Religions: Christianity (Protes¬ tant, Roman Catholic), traditional beliefs, Islam. Currency: ariary. Mada¬ gascar’s high central plateau rises to 9,436 ft (2,876 m) at the volcanic Tsaratanana massif; the island was once heavily forested, and forests still cover one-fifth of the land area. Agriculture dominates the economy; staple crops include rice and cassava, and cash crops include coffee, cloves, and vanilla. Madagascar is a republic with two legislative houses; its chief of state and head of government is the president, assisted by the prime minister. Indonesians migrated to Madagascar c. ad 700. The first European to visit the island was Portuguese navigator Diogo Dias in 1500. Trade in arms and slaves allowed the Malagasy kingdoms to develop at the beginning of the 17th century. In the 18th century the Merina kingdom became dominant; with British assistance, it gained control of a large part of Madagascar in the early 19th century. In 1868 Merina signed a treaty granting France commercial access to the northwestern coast, and in 1895 French troops took the island. Madagascar became a French overseas ter¬ ritory in 1946. In 1958 France agreed to let the territory decide its own fate; as the Malagasy Republic, it gained independence in 1960 and sev¬ ered ties with France in the 1970s, taking its present name in 1975. A new constitution was adopted in 1998.