Obviously in the instance of a severe pandemic influenza outbreak, doctors, nurses, and firefighters are essential but so are truck drivers, communications personnel, and utility workers, according to the conclusions of a Johns Hopkins University article in Biosecurity and Bioterrorism.

The report, led by Nancy Kass, Sc.D, Deputy Director of Public Health for the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics, provides ethical guidance for pandemic planning that ensures a skeletal infrastructure remain intact at all times. Dr. Kass says, "when preparing for a severe pandemic flu it is crucial for leaders to recognize that if the public has limited or no access to food, water, sewage systems, fuel and communications, the secondary consequences may cause greater sickness death and social breakdown than the virus itself."

Dr. Costas Karageorghis of Brunel University’s School of Sport and Education today revealed a study stating that carefully selected music can significantly increase a person’s physical endurance and make the experience of cardiovascular exercise far more positive.

The study in the Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology is the latest from a 20-year program of work into the motivational qualities of music in sport and exercise. The findings illustrate the considerable benefits associated with exercising in time to music: something that some elite athletes, such as marathon world record holder Haile Gebrselassie, have been doing for years.

The scientific principles that guided this piece of research are about to be put into action through an ambitious sporting event due to take place on October 5th in Greenwich, London. The Sony Ericsson Run To The Beat half-marathon will be the first to provide scientifically-selected live musical accompaniment along the entire length of the course. Dr. Karageorghis has selected and coordinated the music that will be played at 17 live music stations to accompany 12,500 runners.

Rigid television screens, bulky laptops and still image posters are one step close to being a thing of the past.

New research published by researchers from Sony and the Max Planck Institute in the New Journal of Physics demonstrate the possibility of bendable optically assessed organic light emitting displays for the first time, based on red or IR-A light upconversion.

The research makes feasible the design of computers that can be folded up and put in your pocket, the mass-production of moving image posters for display advertising, televisions which can be bended to view or, even, newspaper display technology which allows readers to upload daily news to an easy-to-carry display contraption.

You've heard the same cliche time and again: candidates will need to 'reach beyond' their respective political bases to appeal to a larger-than-usual body of independent voters.

In actuality, there are about five independent voters and the rest are just people who won't be bothered to vote unless they are inspired. With both parties emphasizing 'making history' or 'making a change' rather than actually having a good plan and a solid candidate, behavioral scholars have a solution to appeal to that magical broader audience - accentuate the negative in the other party.

It's not the same old negative politics, like attacking the other candidate by running ads showing kids being blown up in a nuclear holocaust or freed convicts who murdered again. It is instead 'negational identity' and it means building coalitions by reminding people who they do not want to be.

BASKING RIDGE, New Jersey, October 2 /PRNewswire/ --

- Supplemental Analysis From Four-Year, Landmark Study Finds Need for Tailored Strategies

Enterprises should assess their security strategies knowing that the challenges differ significantly by industry and that a one-size-fits-all approach is rarely effective. Those are the key findings in a supplemental analysis of data breaches released by Verizon Business today.

The latest study is based on the 2008 Verizon Business Data Breach Investigations Report, issued in June. The landmark report analyzed breaches spanning four years and more than 500 forensic investigations involving 230 million compromised records including three of the five largest breaches ever reported.

HONG KONG, October 2 /PRNewswire/ --

PIE United International Limited (PIE United) introduces the world first HDMI 1080P digital photo viewer (HD-0310). Existing photo viewers only allow photo viewing on small-size screen. Unlike others, HD-0310 is a compact, slim and easy-to-use device that allows customers to view photos, enjoy video clips and music on high-definition TV (HDTV). No need crowding around the computer, just sit back and relax in comfortable living room to share customer favorite photos with friends and family in HDTV.

PIE United believes that, "Yesterday we stored photos in album. Today we view photos in digital photo frame. Tomorrow we share photos with family and friend in large HDTV. "

NEW YORK, October 2 /PRNewswire/ --

In announcing the 2008 finalists for its annual Platts Global Energy Awards today, Platts underscores the changing emphasis of global energy towards long-term supply solutions with finalists in two new categories: Sustainable Technology Innovation of the Year and Strategic Energy Investment of the Year. Established in 1999 and referred to by past attendees as the "Oscars of Energy," the Platts Global Energy Awards recognize innovation, leadership, and superior performance in more than a dozen categories spanning the entire energy industry.

Platts further captures the industry's increased focus on future energy supply by merging two former award categories to create the Sustainable Energy Initiative of the Year award.

ZURICH, Suisse, October 2 /PRNewswire/ --

- Co-operation Sealed Between 3S Industries AG and the Swiss DKSH Group

3S Industries AG, worldwide providers of production equipment for the manufacture of solar modules, and the Swiss DKSH Group, the leading company in the field of Market Expansion Services with focus on Asia, are working together with immediate effect to expand in the markets of Korea and Taiwan. The partnership facilitates optimal support for existing and new customers in these two major growth markets of Asia.

DKSH Holding Ltd. and 3S Industries AG

CHICAGO, October 2 /PRNewswire/ --

The following is a letter to Capital Markets Technologies (OTC Bulletin Board: CMKT) shareholders from Chairman Jack Bouroudjian:

Dear Colleagues and Shareholders,

In addition to the quarterly updates, which CMT will issue, we have decided that if there are any other important updates along the way that we should communicate, they will take the form of a Corporate Update such as this. And this particular update is extremely important!

DALLAS, October 1 /PRNewswire/ --

Harding Energy Partners, LLC, (HE Partners) of Dallas, TX, today (Sept. 30, 2008) announced its acquisition of all core Barnett Shale assets, including those of ExxonMobil, that were held by DDJET Limited LLP (DDJET), and its subsequent sale of these holdings to Chesapeake Energy Corporation.

HE Partners made the decision to sell in order to develop more fully its 146,000 net acres in the James-Limestone and 65,000 net acres in the Haynesville Shale, both in East Texas. The team is also exploring the 50,000 acres it controls in Southeast Mississippi as well as its significant lease position in West Texas.