An international team of scientists has detected that some of the glow of Earth’s aurora is polarized, an unexpected state for such emissions. Measurements of this newfound polarization in the Northern Lights may provide scientists with fresh insights into the composition of Earth’s upper atmosphere, the configuration of its magnetic field, and the energies of particles from the Sun, the researchers say.

If observed on other planets, the phenomenon might also give clues to the shape of the Sun’s magnetic field as it curls around other bodies in the solar system.

When a beam of light is polarized, its electromagnetic waves share a common orientation, say, aligned vertically, or at some other angle. Until now, scientists thought that light from energized atoms and molecules in planetary upper atmospheres could not be polarized. The reason is simple: in spite of the low number of particles at the altitudes concerned (above 100 kilometers (60 miles)), there are still numerous collisions between molecules and gas atoms. Those collisions depolarize the emitted light.

BASEL, Switzerland, April 26 /PRNewswire/ --

- No Nucleoside/Nucleotide Analogue Treatments Have Shown Similar Results

New data revealed today show that a significant number of patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection who received PEGASYS(R) (peginterferon alfa-2a) treatment achieved clearance of a blood antigen known as hepatitis B s-antigen (HBsAg) (1). Clearance of this marker is associated with favourable clinical outcomes, and is as close to a cure as possible in this disease (1-4). HBsAg clearance shows that an individual's own immune system is able to control the infection. None of the nucleoside/nucleotide analogue treatments for hepatitis B virus (HBV) have shown such a result.

MILAN, April 26 /PRNewswire/ --

At today's sessions of the 43rd Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL), experts reported advances in basic research that have important implications for the eventual treatment of people with chronic liver diseases.

MCKINNEY, Texas, April 25 /PRNewswire/ --

Torchmark Corporation (NYSE: TMK) announced that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly dividend of US$.14 per share on all of the outstanding common stock of the Company held of record as of the close of business of the Company's transfer agent on July 7, 2008. The dividend will be paid on August 1, 2008.

AUBURN HILLS, Michigan, April 25 /PRNewswire/ --

RGIS announced today the Acquisition of PDSRS, a leading company in retail space planning software. PDSRS based in the UK is the developer of StorPlanner, a state of the art store optimization software application. StorPlanner, combined with RGIS's R-Map and Visual Retail applications, will provide a unique tool for every retailer to optimize the use of their store-space. With the addition of the PDSRS tools RGIS is now in a position to offer an unparalleled turn-key solution for store mapping services and an interface between the RGIS store mapping output to all commonly used analytical software applications.

PRINCETON, New Jersey and MILAN, Italy, April 25 /PRNewswire/ --

- 85% of patients achieve undetectable HCV RNA levels following 4 weeks of treatment with R7128 1500mg BID with Pegasys(R) plus Copegus(R) -

- Safety and tolerability comparable to placebo administered with Pegasys plus Copegus -

- EASL presentation available on Pharmasset website -

- Conference call scheduled for Friday, April 25, 2008 at 1:00 PM ET (US) and 7:00 PM CEST (Milan) -

INGELHEIM, Germany, April 25 /PRNewswire/ --

- For non-US Healthcare Media

- Abstract # 163O. von Pawel. Proffered Papers 6 - Advanced NSCLC

- Latest Phase II Data for Boehringer Ingelheim's New Cancer Drug in Development Presented

BERLIN, April 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Processes and products based on biomass and industrial biotechnology offer significant business potential for the chemical industry in a wide range of applications such as bioplastics. A panel on developments in the field of industrial biotechnology in Germany will be held at the World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing (April 27-30, 2008) in Chicago, Illinois. The panel runs from 10:45am to 12:15pm on April 28th at the Hilton Chicago, 720 South Michigan Ave.

SUMY, Ukraine, April 25 /PRNewswire/ -- JSC Sumy Frunze NPO (KSE:SMASH), Ukraine's premier machine-building corporation in the petroleum sector, today announced substantially higher 1Q sales, along with ambitious plans to double gross revenue within two years. By 2009, Sumy Frunze NPO aims to reach a US$600 million sales target, double sales for 2007, Victor Choban, general manager, said.

Sumy Frunze NPO production capacity having been expanded, the company's newly declared priority is attracting more customers to fully utilize this capacity.

In 1Q 2008, Sumy Frunze NPO boosted sales four-fold, to US$168.15 million, compared with US$38.13 million in 1Q 2007.

REDMOND, Washington, April 25 /PRNewswire/ --

- FAST CEO John Markus Lervik to lead Microsoft's enterprise search business.

Microsoft Corp today announced that it has completed settlement of its tender offer for Fast Search & Transfer ASA, a leading provider of enterprise search solutions. Microsoft's plans to acquire FAST were originally announced 8 Jan 2008. FAST will operate as a Microsoft subsidiary, with a dedicated enterprise search research and development centre in Oslo, Norway, and offices throughout the world.

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