A study of gene expression in chickens, frogs, pufferfish, mice and people has revealed surprising similarities in several key tissues. Researchers writing in BioMed Central's open access Journal of Biology have shown that expression in tissues with a limited number of specialized cell types is strongly conserved, even between the mammalian and non-mammalian vertebrates.

Once thought to be only the realm of the blue-ringed octopus, researchers have now shown that all octopuses and cuttlefish, and some squid are venomous. The work indicates that they all share a common, ancient venomous ancestor and highlights new avenues for drug discovery.

Conducted by scientists from the University of Melbourne, University of Brussels and Museum Victoria, the study was published in the Journal of Molecular Evolution.

Dr Bryan Fry from the Department of Biochemistry at the Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne said that while the blue-ringed octopus species remain the only group that aredangerous to humans, the other species have been quietly using their venom for predation, such as paralysing a clam into opening its shell. 

Sleep is such an essential part of human existence that we spend about a third of our lives doing it -- some more successfully than others. Sleep disorders afflict some 50-70 million people in the United States and are a major cause of disease and injury. People who suffer from disturbed sleep have an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, hypertension, obesity, depression, and accidents. Nearly a fifth of all serious car crashes, in fact, are linked to sleeplessness. 

Diagnosing sleep disorders is not necessarily easy. In standard "sleep studies," people spend one or more nights at hospitals or other inpatient centers, sleeping while sensors and electrodes attached to the head and torso record breathing, brain waves, heart rate, and other vital signs. 

TORONTO, April 14 /PRNewswire/ --

- Provides Chromium Drilling Update

Noront Resources Ltd. (Noront or the Company) (TSX Venture: NOT) is pleased to present an update on its exploration activities in the Ring of Fire area of northern Ontario in the James Bay Lowlands.

HIGHLIGHTS - Noront continues an aggressive drill program, exploring the Ring of Fire with five drills; - Selected drill results for chromite include the following: - Hole NOT-08-1G077 intersects 35.38% Cr2O3 over 16.6 metres - Hole NOT-08-1G082 intersects 43.00% Cr2O3 over 9.0 metres - Hole NOT-08-1G085 intersects 44.02% Cr2O3 over 7.0 metres - Hole NOT-09-1G087 intersects 36.32% Cr2O3 over 10.2 metres - Hole NOT-09-1G089 intersects 42.22% Cr2O3 over 13.9 metres

Drilling Details:

DENVER, April 14 /PRNewswire/ --

Altira Group LLC - a pioneer and leader in venture capital and private equity funding for energy technology companies, today announced two significant investments totaling US$9.0MM.

Demonstrating its commitment to helping meet global energy demand Altira went against the national trend of declining venture capital investments by making multiple investments in energy technology.

Over the past few weeks, more spam has been slipping through to my Gmail inbox. Consider: The oddly named Jule Cuc enthusiastically offers college Dip1omas [sic]: “At your own pace! No examination! No study! No classes!” Kieth l. Black is cautiously optimistic with his pitch: “Please your spouse more often than not,” while Marianne Daniels is mysteriously quaint: “Uplift your darling couch adventures”. Ironically, Bishop appears to be selling Viagra, though his email contains an esoteric reference to the diary of Samuel Pepys, in which he suggests that “meer sauce, or a pickle” are reasonable antidotes for souring Venison. A certain Elden Tyrimoh is miffed that I “again misplaced his number”.

MILAN, April 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Mirial today announced that Mirial Softphone, the advanced software client for Full-HD audio and video communication, has become a part of PicturePhone's portfolio.

Founded in 1993 in Rochester, NY, PicturePhone is one of the world's largest Value Added Distributors of videoconferencing products and accessories, offering an extensive array of audio and video conferencing solutions, AV integration and advanced technical assistance.

BOLZANO, Italy, April 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Health Robotics today announced audited results for FY2008 ending December 31, 2008, delivering record levels of firm purchase orders, revenue, earnings and cash flow.

Revenues in FY2008 were EUR8.2 million, a 161% increase year-over-year as the company began to record and enjoy the benefits of its indirect sales-channel franchise fee model, recurring revenue recognition, zero debt financing, worldwide adoption of its technology, and its conservative accounting practices of up-front expenditures with no amortization of RD expenses.

NEW YORK, April 14 /PRNewswire/ --

- Income from premium offers and other revenue generating programs don't offset YouTube expenses of content acquisition, bandwidth, storage, and other costs, calculations show

It must have seemed a smart idea when Google paid US$1.65 billion for YouTube in 2006. But more than two years later, Google is losing as much as US$1.65 million a day on the Web's most popular video site, according to calculations and analysis from Internet Evolution.

You can read the full report here:

http://www.internetevolution.com/author.asp?section_id=715doc_id=175123

BURBANK, California, April 14 /PRNewswire/ --

Bella Corporation, a leading producer of innovative and award-winning video products, today announced their latest product, the HD Mouse.

Bella is the trusted brand of video editors worldwide, offering video editing keyboards with unique and innovative features for the home through professional markets. With the introduction of the HD Mouse, Bella reaffirms its position as an innovative creator of compelling products.

HD Mouse: Customization like Never Before