Maize, commonly called corn in the US, is the third most important cereal in the world. It has a great number of advantages for molecular agriculture such as its capacity to express recombinant proteins in the seeds, its widespread cultivation and its genetic diversity, along with being anti-allergenic and non-toxic.

Now scientists from the Universidad de Lleida (University of Lleida) have published a study (1) confirming that maize seeds are an effective and sure platform within molecular agriculture to alleviate diseases. Over the next few years AIDS could be one of the first diseases to benefit from these results, although regulations for this technology are being developed at the same time as research is being undertaken.

In March, transgenic maize became the first plant to be developed commercially for medical use. The PNAS article (2) published the following findings: a maize seed with genes from the 2G12 antibody (already known for its capacity to neutralise infection from the virus) could produce antibodies against the transmission of HIV. Researchers from the Departamento de Producción Vegetal y Ciencia

When it comes to the original migration to the Islands of Southeast Asia (ISEA - namely, the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysian Borneo), the prevailing theory has been the "out of Taiwan" model - a Neolithic expansion from Taiwan driven by rice agriculture about 4,000 years ago.

Researchers say they have discovered genetic evidence that overturns that theory and takes the timeline back by nearly 10,000 years.

The international research team, led by the UK’s first Professor of Archaeogenetics, Martin Richards, has shown that a substantial fraction of their mitochondrial DNA lineages (inherited down the female line of descent), have been evolving within ISEA for a much longer period, possibly since modern humans arrived some 50,000 years ago.

Biologists have discovered that a fundamental building block in the cells of flowering plants evolved independently, yet almost identically, on a separate branch of the evolutionary tree--in an ancient plant group called lycophytes that originated at least 420 million years ago.

Researchers believe that flowering plants evolved from gymnosperms, the group that includes conifers, ginkgos and related plants. This group split from lycophytes hundreds of millions of years before flowering plants appeared.

The building block, called syringyl lignin, is a critical part of the plants' scaffolding and water-transport systems. It apparently emerged separately in the two plant groups, much like flight arose separately in both bats and birds.

CARLSBAD, California, May 24 /PRNewswire/ --

- Novel Catheter Ablation System also delivers remarkably shorter procedure times

Ablation Frontiers, Inc. today announced that four presentations at the Heart Rhythm Society's 2008 Scientific Sessions reported positive early results using its novel Catheter Ablation System, and that these findings aligned well with each other and supported previous experience from the field.

NEW YORK, May 23 /PRNewswire/ --

After his astonishing first season in Formula 1 Lewis Hamilton started the 2008 Championship with an encouraging victory in the Australian GP. Ferrari rivals then hit back and took four consecutive wins, two each for Massa and Raikkonen, but the excellent second place obtained by Hamilton in the Istanbul Grand Prix gave new energy to the British driver, who is now ready for the challenge at the iconic Monaco Grand Prix.

(See video from Diageo at http://media.medialink.com/WebNR.aspx?story=35131 )

PHILADELPHIA, May 23 /PRNewswire/ --

- NiQuitin 4 mg lozenge helps reverse symptoms associated with nicotine withdrawal including difficulty concentrating, attention deficit, memory deficit and selective attention deficit

Actually, I have no proof – yet. But an article this month’s issue of Scientific American highlights the myriad therapeutic benefits of blogging, so maybe dashing off a quick article will help with my aching back… Jessica Wapner writes in her article that self-medication may be the reason the blogosphere has taken off. “Scientists (and writers) have long known about the therapeutic benefits of writing about personal experiences, thoughts and feelings. But besides serving as a stress-coping mechanism, expressive writing produces many physiological benefits.

LEUVEN, Belgium, May 23 /PRNewswire/ --

- Results Confirm the Beneficial effects of Microplasmin in Patients With Vitreomacular Traction Without Need for Vitrectomy Throughout the 6 Month Follow-Up Period

ASHBURN, Virginia, May 23 /PRNewswire/ --

Brainware, Inc., the leading provider of intelligent data capture and enterprise search solutions, today announced that Her Majesty's Prison Service (HMPS) in Newport, U.K. has landed a prestigious award from the International Quality & Productivity Center (IQPC). HMPS was recognized as the winner of the Shared Service Excellence Award in the category of Best New Shared Service Center during the annual awards ceremony in Barcelona, Spain.

DUSSELDORF, Germany, May 23 /PRNewswire/ --

- Prospects for 2008 Confirmed

DUSSELDORF, Germany, May 23 /PRNewswire/ --

- Shareholders Approve Dividend Payment of EUR 0.40 per Share

DUSSELDORF, Germany, May 23 /PRNewswire/ --

The company ended the financial year 2007 with a positive result. In 2007 Gerresheimer achieved sales of EUR957.7m and operating earnings (adjusted EBITDA) of EUR181.6m. For the first quarter of the current financial year 2008, the company reports a sales increase of 18.2% to EUR 239.1m, with a 20.4% increase in operating earnings (adjusted EBITDA) to EUR 43.0m.