BEIJING and BOSTON, July 9 /PRNewswire/ --

- Veteran Business and Technology Executive to Head New North American and European Operations Based in Boston

Today iSoftStone Information Service Corporation (iSoftStone), a leading Business Consulting, ITO and BPO services company in China, announced that it has appointed Bruce A. Ferland as President of iSoftStone, Inc. and the head of its newly formed North American and European Operations. The North American and European Business Group will be headquartered in Boston, MA. Since joining iSoftStone in February 2008, Mr. Ferland has been instrumental in structuring iSoftStone's new North American and European Business Group.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070316/CNF016LOGO )

SAN DIEGO, July 9 /PRNewswire/ --

Gen-Probe Incorporated (Nasdaq: GPRO) announced today that the Company does not intend to increase the value of its conditional tender offer to acquire 100% of the outstanding shares, warrants and convertible bonds of Innogenetics (EBR: INNX), a Belgian molecular diagnostics company.

"We believe the disciplined analytical process we used to value Innogenetics resulted in a full and fair offer, and a higher bid therefore does not make financial sense for us," said Hank Nordhoff, Gen-Probe's chairman and chief executive officer. "Our existing clinical diagnostics and blood screening businesses remain healthy year-to-date, and we continue to focus on growing them in the United States and internationally."

HOUSTON, July 9 /PRNewswire/ --

- Microsoft announces Software + Services Incubation Center Program momentum: ISV enrollment growth, new Incubation Centers.

Today at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2008, Microsoft Corp announced that more than 550 independent software vendors (ISVs) have enrolled in the Microsoft Software + Services Incubation Center Program since its launch in October 2006. As part of this announcement, the Microsoft Software + Services Incubation Center Program, formerly the SaaS Incubation Center Program, was renamed to better align with the company's comprehensive software-plus-services vision.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO)

In addition to helping protect us from heart disease and cancer, a balanced diet and regular exercise can also protect the brain and ward off mental disorders, says Fernando Gómez-Pinilla, a UCLA professor of neurosurgery and physiological science who has spent years studying the effects of food, exercise and sleep on the brain.

Synapses in the brain connect neurons and provide critical functions; much learning and memory occurs at the synapses, Gómez-Pinilla said.

Omega-3 fatty acids — found in salmon, walnuts and kiwi fruit — provide many benefits, including improving learning and memory and helping to fight against such mental disorders as depression and mood disorders, schizophrenia, and dementia.

CHERTSEY, England, July 9 /PRNewswire/ -- KONE has been chosen to supply escalators to Marks & Spencer's new store in Malvern - which features a number of initiatives in line with M&S' 100-point, five-year 'eco' plan. In accordance with M&S's plans to make all UK operations carbon neutral by 2012, KONE has equipped the new store with energy-efficient escalators.

The energy-efficient escalators adjust their speed based on usage, increase equipment lifetime and can reduce energy consumption by up to 30%. The escalators utilise the acclaimed TransVarioTM drive, the most efficient escalator drive on the UK market.

ROUSSET, France, July 9 /PRNewswire/ --

- AT91CAP9S Recognized by Electronique Magazine as Best Product in Microprocessors and Memories Category

Atmel(R) Corporation (Nasdaq: ATML) announced today that its AT91CAP9S customizable microcontroller, that uses the ARM926EJ-S(TM) processor, has been awarded the prestigious Electron d'Or award by Electronique Magazine, in the category Processors and Memories. The laureate in each category is determined by an independent jury of recognized experts in the electronics industry, selected from products released in the year prior to the award.

MAINZ and BAD SEGEBERG, Germany, July 9 /PRNewswire/ --

- My Camp D 2008 offers Inspiration to Participants From Across Germany

700 young people with diabetes visited the second My Camp D, once again turning this unique event into a huge success. Regardless of whether in information workshops, in exchange with other young people affected by the illness or at sport and play - participants joined in the action with enthusiasm and fun.

China is the largest polluter in the world and leads in greenhouse gas emissions but is exempt from the Kyoto Protocol. Many Western countries argue that all polluters should face restrictions if any do, but the US, for example, is the largest importer of goods from China.

Should importers of goods also be responsible for greenhouse gas emissions of goods?

The Kyoto Protocol had numerous flaws, based primarily on an inadequate understanding of which gases caused global warming and to what extent. Focusing solely on counting carbon emissions within national borders was also inadequate in deciding who is responsible for emissions reduction, as suggested by today’s G8+8 stalemate.

HOUSTON, July 9 /PRNewswire/ --

- Accretive Transaction Strengthens ION's Portfolio of Land Seismic Imaging Systems

- Conference Call Scheduled for Wednesday, July 9th at 9 AM EDT

ION Geophysical Corporation (NYSE: IO) announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire all of the outstanding shares of ARAM Systems Ltd., a Canadian-based provider of cable-based land seismic recording systems, and its affiliate company, Canadian Seismic Rentals, Inc. Of the gross purchase price of CDN $350 million, US $275 million will be paid in cash while the remainder will be paid in ION common stock. The transaction is expected to be earnings neutral for the remainder of 2008 and accretive to ION's consolidated pro-forma earnings in 2009.

LUGANO, Switzerland, July 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Helsinn's Top Management and its U.S. partner Eisai Inc. today announced the availability in the USA of ALOXI(R) (palonosetron hydrochloride) injection 0.075 mg for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) for up to 24 hours following surgery. The introduction of ALOXI(R) for PONV represents the first launch of a new indication for an MGI product since Eisai acquired the organization in January 2008.