LONDON, October 1 /PRNewswire/ -- New research into consumer views about online shopping have been compiled by PriceRunner.co.uk, the UK's most comprehensive and impartial price comparison service. The research has shown that reviews of products and companies on websites are rated more highly (98%) than recommendations from friends (88%), and that the brand name is just as important as the product price.

The company invited 2,100 of its users to give an insight into their purchasing habits and to find out which factors are important to them during the buying process.

WAYNE, Pennsylvania and PARIS, October 1 /PRNewswire/ --

The “birth rate” for stars is certainly not easy to determine. Distances in the universe are far too great for astronomers to be able to count all the newly formed celestial bodies with the aid of a telescope so it is fortunate that emerging stars give themselves away by a characteristic signal known as “H-alpha” emissions.

The larger the number of stars being formed in a particular region of the firmament, the more H-alpha rays are emitted from that region.

More newborn stars are apparently emerging around the universe than previously assumed, say researchers at Bonn University who published a paper in “Nature” explaining that a systematic error in the method of estimation has resulted in a lower number.

Eye color and hair color play a role in human partner choice but visual stimuli can also determine mating preferences in the animal kingdom.

In many species, the male’s fortunes in the mating stakes are decided by a conspicuous breeding dress. A study of brightly coloured fish has now demonstrated that this has less to do with aesthetics than with the sensitivity of female eyes, which varies as a result of adaptation to the environment. Females more attuned to blue will choose a metallic blue mate, while those better able to see red will prefer a bright red male.

These mating preferences can be strong enough to drive the formation of new species – provided that habitat diversity is not reduced by human activities.

Countries with strict social rules and behavioral etiquette may foster unruly drinking cultures and characteristic bad behavior, according to a new report on alcohol and violence released today by International Center for Alcohol Policies (ICAP). The report also lists 11 cultural features that may predict levels of violence such as homicide and spousal abuse.

And the culprit is, of course, not just alcohol, but men.

We cannot change the male propensity for aggression, but we can channel it into appropriate and socially acceptable forms. In particular, we need rites of passage for young people that offer challenge and a route to adult status and recognition. The aim should not be to completely suppress male aggression, but to utilize and channel it constructively.

But alcohol and men together make things worse. Apparently, lacking big animals to hunt, a night at the bar starts to resemble gay porn.

NEW YORK, October 1 /PRNewswire/ -- What: GoldenSource Corporation, a leading provider of enterprise data management (EDM) solutions, will exhibit at the SIFMA Fixed Income & Derivatives Operations Conference 2008. Attendees can visit GoldenSource at booth six in the exhibition hall to talk one-on-one with Neil Edelstein and other GoldenSource representatives.

Where: SIFMA Fixed Income & Derivatives Operations Conference 2008, Doral Golf Resort & Spa, Miami, FL

When: SIFMA Fixed Income & Derivatives Operations Conference 2008: Oct. 1-3, 2008

Exhibit Hall Hours: Thursday, Oct. 2: 7:30 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 3: 7:30 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.

PRINCETON, New Jersey, October 1 /PRNewswire/ --

- Consultants from Scientific Update, LLP to Host Roundtable Discussions Centered on Organic Chemical Scale-up, Process R&D and Process Optimization, at InformexUSA, January 27, 2009

GLASGOW, Scotland, October 1 /PRNewswire/ --

Metaforic, a leading provider of anti-tamper solutions, today announced the closure of a US$2 million funding round from software specialist venture capitalists Pentech Ventures and the Scottish Co-Investment Fund. The funding will be used to enhance Metaforic's European presence and to expand the company's worldwide operations including sales and marketing in the United States.

LONDON and PHILADELPHIA, October 1 /PRNewswire/ --

- Each Report uses Market Intelligence and Competitive Analysis from Thomson Reuters to Highlight Developments on the International Pharmaceutical Pipeline

Thomson Reuters, the world's leading source of intelligent information for businesses and professionals, has announced the availability of three Pharma Matters reports covering the time period April - June 2008. The quarterly Pharma Matters reports cover all aspects of the pharmaceutical pipeline, leveraging strategic intelligence and competitive analysis from Thomson Pharma(R), Newport Horizon Premium(TM) and the Thomson Messaging Mapping System(SM).

EDMONTON, Canada, October 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Control-See, a leader in alarm notification software, has chosen to standardize on MatrikonOPC technology for all of its data connectivity needs. "To receive secure and reliable alarm notification data we chose MatrikonOPC as our data connectivity provider due to their reputation as the industry standard for providing reliable critical data." said Michael Meirovitz, CEO of Control-See. MatrikonOPC is proud with the partnership and welcomes Control-See to its Reseller Partner Program. Control See will act as a reseller and systems integrator for MatrikonOPC products in Israel and Middle-East regions.