Research on a treasure trove of amber has yielded evidence that France once was covered by a dense tropical rainforest with trees similar to those found in the modern-day Amazon. The report is on 55-million-year-old pieces of amber from the Oise River area in northern France.

In the new study, Akino Jossang and colleagues used laboratory instruments to analyze the fossilized tree sap in an effort to link specific samples of amber to specific kinds of trees. The amber remained intact over the ages, while the trees from which it oozed disappeared. Efforts to make such connections have been difficult because amber from different sites tended to have very similar chemical compositions.

Exposure to air pollution significantly reduces foetus size during pregnancy, according to a new study by Brisbane scientists.

Queensland University of Technology senior research fellow Dr Adrian Barnett said the study compared the foetus sizes of more than 15,000 ultrasound scans in Brisbane to air pollution levels within a 14km radius of the city.

"The study found that mothers with a higher exposure to air pollution had foetuses that were, on average, smaller in terms of abdominal circumference, head circumference and femur length," Dr Barnett said.

LAS VEGAS, CONSUMER ELECTRONICS SHOW, January 7 /PRNewswire/ --

- Innovative Multi-GPU Technology Raises Performance, Reduces Power Consumption for PC Graphics

NVIDIA (Nasdaq: NVDA), the world leader in visual computing technologies, today announced the industry's first hybrid technology for PC platforms -- Hybrid SLI(TM) -- that addresses two critical issues: increasing graphics performance and reducing power consumption. NVIDIA Hybrid SLI technology will be incorporated into a wide variety of graphics and motherboard desktop and notebook products that the Company is rolling out for both AMD and Intel desktop and notebook computing platforms throughout 2008.

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BOSTON, January 7 /PRNewswire/ --

Audax Group announced it has completed the acquisition, together with management, of a controlling interest in Reed Group, Ltd. ("Reed"). Headquartered in Westminster, Colorado, Reed is a provider of proprietary, evidence-based return-to-work guidelines and outsourced absence and clinical case management services that assist in the reduction of disability and absence costs for employers. Reed's Chairman and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Presley Reed, and President Stacey Grace continue to lead the company's management team and serve on the company's Board of Directors. The Reed family trust maintains a significant ownership interest in the company.

PALO ALTO, California, January 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Based on its recent analysis of the global rapid prototyping equipment market, Frost & Sullivan recognizes Objet Geometries, Ltd. with the 2007 Frost & Sullivan Growth Excellence of the Year Award.

The company broke into and gained significant share in the world rapid prototyping equipment market, which is dominated by well-established companies that pose significant barriers to entry for new vendors.

Objet Geometries has witnessed double-digit growth rates year-on-year for the past three years and has set new benchmarks in the rapid prototyping equipment market since the introduction of its patented and innovative PolyJet(TM) technology in early 2000.

BRISTOL, England, January 7 /PRNewswire/ -- If you can dream it, you can build it as Majesco Entertainment Company (NASDAQ: COOL), an innovative provider of video games for the mass market, today announced Our House for the Wii(TM) home video game system. Developed by Budcat Creations, Our House turns the Wii Remote(TM) into the ultimate creation tool that lets players design, build and decorate their own personalized trophy home they can share with others in an online neighborhood.

MILPITAS, California, January 7 /PRNewswire/ --

- Innovative ESD Architecture and New Website Launched

LAS VEGAS, CES 2008, January 7 /PRNewswire/ --

- Turnkey Hardware/Software Solution with Award-Winning Video Processing Enables Rapid Time-to-Market of Richly Featured LCD-TVs

Marvell (Nasdaq: MRVL), a leader in storage, communications, and consumer silicon solutions, today announced the 88DE2710-WX, a complete HD-ready hardware and software solution LCD-TV chassis. Featuring the Marvell(R) 88DE2710 digital video format converter with Qdeo(TM) video processing, the 88DE2710-WX reference design delivers consistent, immersive viewing experiences with all types of content and video sources.

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PRINCETON, New Jersey, January 7 /PRNewswire/ --

- 85% of patients achieve undetectable HCV RNA levels following 4 weeks of treatment with R7128 1500mg and Pegasys(R) plus Copegus(R) with safety and tolerability comparable to placebo -

- Conference Call Scheduled for 4:00PM ET Today -

LAS VEGAS, CES, January 7 /PRNewswire/ --

- Marvell 88DE2710 Digital Video Format Converter Powers Premium Quality Video on LCD Televisions

Marvell (Nasdaq: MRVL) today announced that its award-winning Qdeo(TM) video processing is a featured technology of the Onida 42" Xaria LCD-TV, developed for the emerging markets of India and the Gulf countries. Part of the Marvell(R) 88DE2710 digital video format converter, Qdeo delivers quiet, natural video free of artifacts and noise, enhances the color, and intelligently scales all video inputs into a high-definition format.

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