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In an era of sluggish domestic growth, the business spotlight is once again turning to international diversification as a means to harness global growth opportunities and production efficiencies. However, the current empirical literature provides an inconsistent view of the effects of international diversification on business performance. We employ a panel-data analysis of the international revenues and assets of the 2011 Fortune Global 500 companies and examine their performance over the past 15 years. We find that the overall contribution of diversification to revenue growth, profitability and return on capital has been positive. However, the specific shape and timing of the impact can be complex. Accordingly, businesses need to be aware of the turning points for organizational gain as well as loss.

The article discusses increasing use of Internet of Things (IoT) in poor countries. Topics discussed include use of wireless technologies and cheap sensors for economic growth through IoT such as traditional telecommunication infrastructure, use of mobile applications and wireless combination for health care assistance, and tracking of physiological condition of soil and land to increase production of crops using smart sensors.

Electron spin resonance, hematologic, and deformability studies of erythrocytes from patients with Huntington's disease have been performed. A decreased deformability of Huntington's disease erythrocytes compared to normal controls was demonstrated. No difference in erythrocyte hematologic indices, osmotic fragility, reticulocyte counts, or intracellular Na+concentration was found. Huntington's disease serum had no demonstrable effect on electron spin resonance parameters of a protein-specific spin label attached to membrane proteins in control erythrocytes compared to the effect of control serum. This finding suggests that under the conditions employed no serum component or circulating factor is responsible for the changes in the physical state of membrane proteins in Huntington's disease erythrocytes (Butterfield, D.A., Oeswein, J.Q. and Markesbery, W.R. (1977) Nature 267, 453–455). No alteration in lipid fluidity of Huntington's disease erythrocyte membranes could be discerned suggesting that the underlying molecular defect in Huntington's disease involves a membrane protein. The results of the present studies on erythrocytes strongly support the concept that Huntington's disease is associated with a generalized membrane abnormality.

The article looks at the July 2006 International Grand Prix swim meet in Santa Clara, California. The meet will include a reunion of Santa Clara Swim Club members. Several swimmers, including Donna de Varona, Mark Spitz, Pablo Morales, and Don Schollander, will be attending the meet. The article discusses swimming coach and founder of the Santa Clara club George Haines, who died in 2006.

The article offers tip on how to get a good pick of hanger.