Does playing violent video games make players aggressive? It is a question that has taxed researchers, sociologists, and regulators ever since the first console was plugged into a TV and the first shots fired in a shoot ‘em up game.

Writing today in the International Journal of Liability and Scientific Enquiry, Patrick Kierkegaard of the University of Essex, England, suggests that there is scant scientific evidence that video games are anything but harmless and do not lead to real world aggression. Moreover, his research shows that previous work is biased towards the opposite conclusion.

Video games have come a long way since the simplistic ping-pong and cascade games of the early 1970s, the later space-age Asteroids and Space Invaders, and the esoteric Pac-man. Today, severed limbs, drive-by shootings, and decapitated bodies captivate a new generation of gamers and gruesome scenes of violence and exploitation are common.

BEACHWOOD, Ohio, May 14 /PRNewswire/ --

Aleris International, Inc. announced today the election of J. Steven Whisler to its Board of Directors. His election expands the Aleris board to seven members.

Mr. Whisler, 53, retired as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Phelps Dodge Corporation, a Fortune 500 company based in Phoenix, following its merger with Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. in March 2007. Mr. Whisler had been with Phelps Dodge in several executive positions for 30 years.

"We look forward to Steve's guidance and insights as he draws upon his outstanding experience with one of the world's leading metals companies," said Steven J. Demetriou, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Aleris. "We are pleased to welcome him to our board."

BRUSSELS, Belgium, May 14 /PRNewswire/ --

In order to better contribute to the ongoing debate on ethanol and climate change and in line with its global strategy, the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA) has opened an office in Brussels and appointed a European Representative. The move follows the opening of an office in Washington D.C. in late 2007.

They all relate to Cepheid variables! Before you tune out because it sounds like a hard concept to understand, bear with me. I’ll start with a story from Greek mythology. (Notice how a lot of the constellations have stories from myths?)

PANAMA CITY, May 14 /PRNewswire/ --

- Expansion of the programmes is aimed at strengthening region's research community.

BARCELONA, Spain, May 14 /PRNewswire/ --

- Data from SPIRIT II and III Clinical Trials Also Show Improvement in Vessel Renarrowing with XIENCE V Compared to TAXUS in Patients with Small Vessels

Data presented today from an independent pooled subset analysis of Abbott's SPIRIT II and SPIRIT III clinical trials demonstrated a clinically significant 51 percent reduction in major adverse cardiac events (MACE) with the XIENCE(TM) V Everolimus Eluting Coronary Stent System compared to the TAXUS(R) paclitaxel-eluting coronary stent system in patients with small vessels out to one year. The data were presented during an Abbott-sponsored symposium at EuroPCR 2008.

VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP, Michigan, May 14 /PRNewswire/ --

The board of directors of Visteon Corporation (NYSE: VC) today elected Donald J. Stebbins as president and chief executive officer, effective June 1, 2008. Stebbins, who was president and chief operating officer, succeeds Michael F. Johnston in the CEO role. Johnston will continue as executive chairman of the global automotive supplier.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080514/CLW004 )

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20001201/DEF008LOGO )

RALEIGH, North Carolina and LONDON, May 14 /PRNewswire/ --

Campbell Alliance, the leading management consulting firm specializing in the pharmaceutical and biotech industry, today announced that Gary Tyson, Senior Vice President of the firm's Clinical Development Practice, will present a session on managing the global rollout of electronic data capture (EDC) systems at Informa's Clinical Trials Congress, Europe. The event will be held on May 28-29, 2008, at the Olympia Conference Centre in London.

Mr. Tyson's session, titled "After EDC Implementation: Now What?" is slated for 29 May at 14:50. The session, designed to help clinical leaders understand how organizations can ensure successful uptake of EDC solutions and maximize returns on EDC investments, will cover

NEW YORK, May 14 /PRNewswire/ -- What: GoldenSource Corporation, a leading provider of Enterprise Data Management (EDM) solutions is holding a web cast entitled "Derivatives: The Eye of the Data Storm" on Tuesday, May 20 at 11 a.m. EST. A copy of the research presented during the webinar will be sent to all participants afterwards.

Where: Derivatives: The Eye of the Data Storm

http://www.thegoldensource.com/event_single.php?id=28&event=Webinar:%20Th e%20Eye%20of%20the%20Data%20Storm&type=future (Due to the length of this URL, it may be necessary to copy and paste this hyperlink into your Internet browser's URL address field. Remove the space if one exists.)

When: Tuesday, May 20, 11 a.m. EST

COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 14 /PRNewswire/ --

- UTM Appliances Will Protect All Bravo! Development Inc. Locations

Bravo! Development Inc., owners of BRAVO! Cucina Italiana, BRIO Tuscan Grille and BON VIE Bistro, have deployed Trustwave's Unified Threat Management (UTM) information security appliance at 71 locations throughout the United States. Trustwave, the leading provider of on-demand data security and payment card industry compliance management solutions to businesses and organizations throughout the world, will monitor and manage all the devices.