Last winter, the thickness of sea ice in large parts of the Arctic fell by nearly half a metre (19 per cent) compared with the average thickness of the previous five winters. This followed the dramatic 2007 summer low when Arctic ice extent dropped to its lowest level since records began. 

Up until last winter, the thickness of Arctic sea ice showed a slow downward trend during the previous five winters, but after the summer 2007 record low extent, the thickness of the ice also nose-dived. What is concerning is that sea ice is not just receding but it is also thinning. 

Children and adolescents who abuse alcohol or are sexually active are more likely to take methamphetamines (MA), also known as ‘meth’ or ‘speed’. Research published today in the open access journal BMC Pediatrics reveals the risk factors associated with MA use, in both low-risk children (those who don’t take drugs) and high-risk children (those who have taken other drugs or who have ever attended juvenile detention centres).

Applying electrical stimulation to the scalp and the underlying motor regions of the brain could make you more skilled at delicate tasks. Research published today in the open access journal BMC Neuroscience shows that a non-invasive brain-stimulation technique, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), is able to improve the use of a person’s non-dominant hand. 

MADRID, Spain, October 28 /PRNewswire/ --

-- The Expiration Date of the U.S. Offer has been extended until 12:00 midnight, New York City time, on October 31, 2008.

Telefonica S.A. (Telefonica) announced today that the U.S. Offer would be extended to 12:00 midnight, New York City time, on October 31, 2008.

The Chilean Offer will expire at 11:00 p.m., New York City time, on October 30, 2008.

REHOVOT, Israel and JERSEY CITY, New Jersey, October 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Rosetta Genomics Ltd. (Nasdaq:ROSG), a leader in the development of microRNA-based diagnostics and therapeutics, today announced that Credit Suisse, as part of a settlement agreement it has reached with the Attorney General of the State of New York and the North American Securities Administrators Association Task Force, has begun to repurchase Rosetta Genomics ARS. So far, Credit Suisse has repurchased $2.7M worth of the $7.5M in ARS held by Rosetta Genomics.

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana, October 27 /PRNewswire/ --

- Breakthrough Activation Technology Doubles Catalyst Activity without Modifying Target Resin Properties

Albemarle Corporation (NYSE: ALB) a global leader in supported single-site catalyst production and metallocene catalyst components, has created a revolutionary new activator/single-site catalyst program that delivers twice the typical productivity of conventional products.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050801/ALBEMARLELOGO )

Viruses are nasty opponents, as anyone who has followed the battles against influenza, SARs and HIV/AIDS can attest. They are diverse and in many cases evolve at rates that confound efforts to contain them. Anyone who has gotten a flu shot, and then came down with the flu a few months later because the “strain” of virus that the vaccine was not the same as the “strain” that they were infected with, knows just how fast viruses can evolve. In many cases, medical professional never really know which virus has caused the symptoms in their patients, and this complicates treatment and often leads to the misuse of antibiotics, which, of course, are never effective against viruses.

Since their discovery, stem cells have been hailed as the ultimate answer for crippling and incurable diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other conditions that leave vital organs like heart or nerves damaged beyond repair. Researchers from the University of Cambridge, under the leadership of Professor Austin Smith, Director of the Wellcome Trust Centre for Stem Cell Research at the University of Cambridge, recently published a paper(1) detailing a new technology that can transform adult stem cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS). This technique is able to reliably reprogram adult cells into iPS rapidly and can forego the need to rely on mammalian embryos to generate pluripotent stem cells.

ANTONY, France, October 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Stallergenes has just obtained authorization (IND(1)) from the FDA for immediately launching a phase III clinical trial in the United States with Oralair(R) Grasses in the treatment of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis to grass pollens in adults.

The aim of the study, which will be conducted in 450 American patients during the 2009 pollen season, is to confirm the efficacy and good tolerance of the product in adults and to support the application for authorization to market it in the United States.

WASHINGTON, October 27 /PRNewswire/ --

- Data presented at the joint annual meeting of ICAAC and IDSA

- Results suggest candidate vaccine may be as effective as Prevnar for the seven shared serotypes, and provide expanded coverage for six additional serotypes

- Wyeth on track to complete U.S. filing for pediatric use in the first quarter of 2009, with other pediatric global filings expected at the same time, or possibly earlier