Underlying replacement cost profit, a common accounting measure to report profits in the oil industry which takes into account the fluctuations in the price of oil, came in at $2.809 billion. That was above a forecast supplied by the company of $2.7 billion.P, the West's no.4 oil company, reported weaker quarterly profits after its refining business swung to a loss, and said it would increase the accounting provision for the 2010 U.S. oil spill by $200 million.
Braces are simply a special type of brackets, which are also known as curly brackets. In common practice, they are used are in poetry and music, to mark repeats or joined lines. They are also used in mathematics, often in notation for denoting or defining a set.
Brackets (the part of the brace that is actually attached to the tooth) come in a variety of materials, including metal, ceramic, plastic and even shapes. The metal archwires and bands connecting the brackets can come in different colors and shades, too, and clear wires are even being developed. For the height of facial fashion, the elastic ligatures or rubber bands come in just about any color imaginable, giving patients a chance to really individualize their look. One orthodontist told Parenthood.com that today's braces are thought of like jewelry for many young girls [source: Parenthood ].