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.

Video games that energize players and induce a positive mood could also enhance creativity, according to media researchers. However, the study also finds that players who were not highly energized and had a negative mood, registered the highest creativity.

"You need defocused attention for being creative," said S. Shyam Sundar, professor of film, video and media studies at Penn State. "When you have low arousal and are negative, you tend to focus on detail and become more analytical."

Sundar and Elizabeth Hutton, a Penn State graduate student, are trying to understand the value of video games as a vehicle for sparking positive social traits, such as creativity. Fun and games aside, video games are viewed as a serious communication technology. Schools, corporations and even the government are increasingly employing it as a tool in enhancing learning and decision-making.

New spray-on films developed by UC San Diego chemists will be the basis of portable devices that can quickly reveal trace amounts of nitrogen-based explosives.

Contaminated fingerprints leave dark shadows on the films, which glow blue under ultraviolet light. One of the films can distinguish between different classes of explosive chemicals, a property that could provide evidence to help solve a crime, or prevent one.

A recent episode of CSI: Miami featured the technology, which linked fingerprints left on a video camera to a bomb used in a bank heist, revealing the motive for the robbery. In real life, the security systems company RedXDefense has developed a portable kit based on the technology that security officers could use with minimal training.