New computer visualization technology developed by the Harvard Initiative in Innovative Computing has helped astrophysicists understand that gravity plays a larger role than previously thought in deep space's vast, star-forming molecular clouds.

The insight is being illustrated in Nature's online version through new three-dimensional Portable Document Format (PDF) technology that will allow readers to view the article's key graphics using free PDF software already commonly found on computers.

An extract from grape seeds forces laboratory leukemia cells to commit cell suicide, according to researchers from the University of Kentucky. They found that within 24 hours, 76 percent of leukemia cells had died after being exposed to the extract.



The investigators, who report their findings in the January 1, 2009, issue of Clinical Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, also teased apart the cell signaling pathway associated with use of grape seed extract that led to cell death, or apoptosis. They found that the extract activates JNK, a protein that regulates the apoptotic pathway.

Antibiotics may be overprescribed in kids because of concern by helicopter parents and worries about malpractice lawsuits, but in at least one instance they are saving a lot of lives - as a preventive measure to patients in intensive care units (ICUs).

This from a study involving nearly sixthousand Dutch patients in thirteen hospitals. Researchers at University Medical Center (UMC) Utrecht have published their findings in an article in The New England Journal of Medicine. 

EVANSTON, Illinois, December 30 /PRNewswire/ --

Amid daily headlines of civil war, suicide attacks, ethnic violence and social unrest emerges some welcome positive news.

The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International -- a humanitarian service organization dedicated to world peace and understanding -- has awarded seven Africans to study peacemaking and conflict resolution at the Rotary Centers for International Studies located at leading universities in England, Japan, Australia, Argentina, and the United States.

The African fellows in the 2008-10 class hail from Somalia, Zambia, Gambia, Nigeria, Togo, Kenya and Sierra Leone.

CLEVELAND, December 30 /PRNewswire/ --

American Greetings Corporation (NYSE: AM) today announced it has reached an agreement to acquire Recycled Paper Greetings, Inc.

American Greetings has agreed to purchase Recycled Paper Greetings, Inc. (Recycled Paper). Recycled Paper is a Chicago-based preeminent creator and designer of humorous greeting cards with annual net sales of approximately US$80 million. Recycled Paper's humor cards are distributed primarily through mass retail partners, drug stores and specialty retail stores. The transaction is subject to various closing conditions including a Chapter 11 reorganization process being successfully completed for Recycled Paper and other closing conditions.

HATBORO, Pennsylvania and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, December 30 /PRNewswire/ --

The Sports Network (TSN) and Contec Innovations (TSX.V: BUZ.V) jointly announced today the upcoming availability of their new global mobile sports service.

This service is now being readied for launch in early 2009. As 2008 comes to a close, both TSN and Contec are already engaging partners, customers and sponsors interested in deploying the new mobile services that have graduated from the drawing board to a level of readiness for each participant given their respective role, stated Mickey Charles, President and CEO of TSN. Dialogue is underway from North America to the Far East as we continue, with Contec, to expand our entry into the mobile community on a world-wide basis.

LONDON, December 30 /PRNewswire/ --

- Stubbing Out Your 5 a Day Habit Could Help You Give Your Child GBP15,500 on Their 18th Birthday

Leading Child Trust Fund provider, The Children's Mutual (http://www.thechildrensmutual.co.uk) is encouraging all parents who decide to give up smoking as their New Year's resolution to consider putting the money that they will save towards their children's futures.

WAALWIJK, The Netherlands, December 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Technology company IAI in Veldhoven, the Netherlands, a subsidiary of the stock listed company DOCDATA N.V. in Waalwijk, the Netherlands, will supply four BookMaster One systems for the personalisation of passports to a country in Europe.

IAI's principal is a local subsidiary of 3M Company located in St. Paul (Minneapolis, USA). The 3M subsidiary will acquire the systems within the framework of a government order. At request of the principal, IAI will not announce which European country it concerns.

Researchers in Great Britain and the United States have imaged the first high definition imprints that dolphin sounds make in water.   They consider it a real breakthrough in deciphering dolphin language.

Certain sounds made by dolphins have long been suspected to represent language but the complexity of the sounds has made their analysis difficult. Previous techniques, using the spectrograph, display cetacean (dolphins, whales and porpoises) sounds only as graphs of frequency and amplitude.

Religious people have more self-control than non-religious counterparts, says a study by University of Miami professor of Psychology Michael McCullough and he says this is why religious people may be better at pursuing and achieving long-term goals and also might help explain why religious people tend to have lower rates of substance abuse, better school achievement, less delinquency, better health behaviors, less depression, and longer lives.