Reynolds American Inc. formerly R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Holdings, Inc. U.S.-based tobacco company. Its origins date to the establishment of Richard Joshua Reynolds’s tobacco-plug factory in Win¬ ston, N.C., in 1875, producing plug tobacco (compressed cakes). The Reynolds Tobacco Co. became a major manufacturer of tobacco products, notably Camel, Winston, and Salem cigarettes. After embarking on a pro¬ gram of diversification in the 1960s, the firm adopted the name R.J. Rey¬ nolds Industries, Inc., in 1970 and purchased Nabisco Brands in 1985. The new company, named RJR Nabisco in 1986, was acquired in 1989 by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR) for $25 billion, the largest cor¬ porate transaction of its time. KKR divested its ownership in 1995. R.J. Reynolds returned to its primary business of tobacco marketing and merged with British-owned rival Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp. in 2004 to create Reynolds American.
Reynolds number In fluid mechanics, a number that indicates whether the flow of a fluid (liquid or gas) is absolutely steady (in streamlined, or laminar flow) or on the average steady with small, unsteady changes (in turbulent flow; see turbulence). The Reynolds number, abbreviated N Re or Re, has no dimensions (see dimensional analysis) and is defined as the size of the flow—as, for example, the diameter of a tube (D) times the aver¬ age speed of flow (v) times the mass density of the fluid (p)—divided by its absolute viscosity (p). Osborne Reynolds demonstrated in 1883 that the change from laminar to turbulent flow in a pipe occurs when the value of the Reynolds number exceeds 2,100.
Rg Veda See Rig Veda
Rh blood-group system System for classifying blood according to presence or absence of the Rh antigen (factor) in erythrocytes. Rh-negative persons who receive Rh-positive blood transfusions produce antibodies to Rh factor, which attack red blood cells with the factor if they are ever received again, causing serious illness and sometimes death. The antibod¬ ies also attack the red cells of an Rh-positive fetus carried by an Rh-negative woman if she has had a previous Rh-positive transfusion or
pregnancy (see erythroblastosis fetalis). The Rh-negative trait is rare world¬ wide but more common in some ethnic groups. See also blood typing.
rhabdovirus V.rab-do-'vI-rosV Any of a group of viruses responsible for rabies and vesicular stomatitis (an acute disease of cattle and horses, char¬ acterized by blisters in and about the mouth, that resembles foot-and- mouth disease). The bullet-shaped virus particle is encased in a fatty membrane and contains RNA.
Rhaetia See Raetia
Rhaetian Vre-teonN Alps Segment of the central Alps located mainly in Switzerland but also extending along the Italian-Swiss and Austrian- Swiss borders. Bernina Peak, on the Italian border, is the highest point, at elevation 13,284 ft (4,049 m). In the eastern section is the Swiss National Park, founded in 1914, with an area of 65 sq mi (169 sq km); it is known for its rugged Alpine scenery and its wildlife.
Rhagae or Ragae \'ra-je\ Persian Rey Ancient city. Media. It was formerly one of the great cities of Iran; its ruins are at modern Rey, near Tehran. Settlement there dates from the 3rd millennium bc. Under the Sasanian dynasty (3rd-7th centuries ad), it was a centre of Zoroastrian¬ ism. It was captured by the Muslims in ad 641. It grew in importance until the 12th century, when it was weakened by religious conflicts. In 1220 it was destroyed by the Mongols, and its inhabitants were massacred. It was famous for its decorated silks and for ceramics. The 'Abbasid caliph HarOn al-Rashid, memorialized in The Thousand and One Nights, was born there c. 765. The only remaining architectural features are two towers.
Rhazes See al-RAzi
Rhea Vre-s\ Greek goddess, one of the Titans. Daughter of Uranus and Gaea, she married her brother Cronus, who swallowed all their children except Zeus, whom Rhea concealed. Zeus then overcame Cronus and restored his siblings.
rhea \'re-o\ Either of two ostrich-like species of South American three¬ toed ratite birds (family Rheidae). The common rhea ( Rhea americana ) is about 4 ft (120 cm) tall and weighs about 50 lbs (20 kg). It has luxu¬ riant plumage, brown or gray above and whitish below. Darwin’s rhea (Pterocnemia pennata ) is smaller and has white-tipped brownish plum¬ age. Rheas live in open country, often among grazing animals, and run from predators. They eat a wide variety of plants and animals. Both spe¬ cies are listed as endangered.
Rhee, Syngman (b. March 26, 1875, Whang-hae, Korea—d. July 19, 1965, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.) First president of the Republic of Korea (South Korea). The first Korean to earn a Ph.D. at a U.S. university (Prince¬ ton), he returned to Korea in 1910, the year Japan annexed Korea. Unable to hide his hostility toward Japanese rule, he left again for the U.S. in 1912. For the next 30 years he spoke out for Korean independence; in 1919 he was elected president of a provisional government in exile. As the only Korean leader well known to the U.S., Rhee was returned to Korea ahead of his rivals at the end of World War II; he was elected president of the Republic of Korea in 1948. He held that post until 1960, when opposition to his authoritarian policies (which included outlawing the opposition Pro¬ gressive Party) forced his resignation. He died in exile.
Rheims See Reims
rhesus \'re-sos\ monkey Sand-coloured macaque ( Macaca mulatto).
widespread in South and Southeast Asian forests. Rhesus monkeys are 17-25 in. (43-64 cm) long, exclud¬ ing the furry 8-12-in. (20-30-cm) tail, and weigh 10-24 lb (4.5-11 kg). They eat fruits, seeds, roots, herbs, and insects. They are held sacred in some parts of India. Hardy in captiv¬ ity, highly intelligent, and lively, they make good pets when young but may become bad-tempered as adults. They have been used frequently in medical research. The determination of the Rh (from rhesus) factor in human blood involves reaction with the blood of this species. See also Rh BLOOD-GROUP SYSTEM.
Rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatto).
YLLA—RAPHO/PHOTO RESEARCHERS
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rhetoric ► Rhodes I 1615
rhetoric Art of speaking or writing effectively. It may entail the study of principles and rules of composition formulated by critics of ancient times, and it can also involve the study of writing or speaking as a means of communication or persuasion. Classical rhetoric probably developed along with democracy in Syracuse (Sicily) in the 5th century bc, when dispossessed landowners argued claims before their fellow citizens. Shrewd speakers sought help from teachers of oratory, called rhetors. This use of language was of interest to philosophers such as Plato and Aris¬ totle because the oratorical arguments called into question the relation¬ ships among language, truth, and morality. The Romans recognized separate aspects of the process of composing speeches, a compartmental- ization that grew more pronounced with time. Renaissance scholars and poets studied rhetoric closely, and it was a central concern of humanism. In all times and places where rhetoric has been significant, listening and reading and speaking and writing have been the critical skills necessary for effective communication.
rheumatic \ru-'ma-tik\ fever Generalized disease caused by certain types of streptococcus bacteria. It occurs mostly in children and young adults. Symptoms may be mild or severe. Sudden fever, joint pain, and inflammation may begin days to weeks after a streptococcal infection, usually of the throat (see pharyngitis). Other symptoms may include skin nodules and rashes, chorea, abdominal pain, nosebleeds, and weight loss. Heart inflammation, with accompanying rapid heartbeat, murmurs, and enlargement, can lead to valve scarring, markedly shortening life. After recovery, survivors are prone to future attacks. Penicillin given when the initial infection is diagnosed can prevent it. Otherwise, salicylic acid derivatives or corticosteroids help the symptoms.