The p53 regulatory network, the 'guardian of the genome' has, during the course of human evolution, created additional safeguards in human genes to further guard against DNA damage that could a variety of genetic diseases, according to an international team of scientists writing in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Ethology is the study of animal behavior, with a focus on behavioral patterns in natural environments. A new paper shows that researchers are now taking a machine-learning approach.

The work by Csaba Molnár from Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary and his research team shows that a new piece of software is able to classify dog barks according to different situations and even identify barks from individual dogs, a task humans find challenging.

The aim of Molnár and colleagues’ experiments was to test a computer algorithm’s ability to identify and differentiate the acoustic features of dog barks, and classify them according to different contexts and individual dogs.

All multicellular animals have an innate immune system. When bacteria, parasites or fungi invade the organism, small protein molecules are released that eliminate the attackers. Scientists of the German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ) have now discovered a new molecule that plays an important role in triggering the innate immune response of the fruit fly Drosophila, mice and even humans.

The cells of the innate immune system recognize hostile invaders with the aid of receptors on their surface: The moment these receptors recognize a foreign structure, they send a message, via a complicated signaling pathway, into the cell¡¦s interior. The cell then releases immunologically active proteins.

HOOFDDORP, The Netherlands, January 16 /PRNewswire/ -- CEVA Logistics, the 4th largest supply chain company worldwide, has appointed Peter Dew as Group Chief Information Officer (CIO), effective April 1, 2008. He will be responsible for establishing and implementing CEVA's IT strategy at a global level.

Peter Dew has a wealth of experience from similar roles in major international corporations. Prior to joining CEVA, he was CIO of Linde Group and before that Group Director, Information Management at BOC. "This is a great time to be joining as dynamic a company as CEVA. I look forward very much to working with my new colleagues at building a true logistics industry leader."

Climatologists at the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) in New York City released an analysis showing that 2007 tied with 1998 for Earth’s second warmest year in a century. 2006 was fifth in that period.

There will be some issue with accuracy. The researchers used temperature data from weather stations on land, satellite measurements of sea ice temperature since 1982 and data from ships for earlier years.

The greatest warming in 2007 occurred in the Arctic, and neighboring high latitude regions. Global warming has a larger affect in polar areas, as the loss of snow and ice leads to more open water, which absorbs more sunlight and warmth. Snow and ice reflect sunlight; when they disappear, so too does their ability to deflect warming rays.

CALGARY, Canada, January 16 /PRNewswire/ --

- 2007 Reserve Replacement Ratio of 302 Per Cent and Reserve Life

Index of 9.7 Years

- Year End 2007 Proved Plus Probable Oil Reserves Increase 26 Per

Cent to 446.7 MMbbl

- Year End 2007 Unrisked Prospective Oil Resources of 2,246 MMbbl

(Risked 738 MMbbl)

- Year End 2007 Contingent Gas Resources of 2,415 Bcf and 77.2 MMbbl

of Liquids

CALGARY, Canada, January 16 /PRNewswire/ --

CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, January 16 /PRNewswire/ --

Mersana, a cancer therapeutics company, announced today that John H. van Duzer, Ph.D. has joined the company as Vice President of Manufacturing & Pharmaceutical Sciences.

"John van Duzer adds a critical component to the Mersana management team with his manufacturing and development experience," said Julie A. Olson, Ph.D., President and CEO at Mersana. "As a clinical development-stage company, manufacturing plays a key role in the advancement of our products and John's contributions will impact our entire pipeline. We are also fortunate that John's early experience in research enables the seamless transition of candidates from research into development."

BURLINGAME, California, January 16 /PRNewswire/ --

- Registration in Area Balloons to 2 Million; Prepaid mig33 Offering to be Available in More Than 1,000 Retail Locations across South Africa

mig33, the global mobile social network, today announced the company obtained a distribution license in South Africa with the assistance of the DNR Group. The company's first partnership in South Africa with Lutiek Distributor enables mig33 to offer prepaid services at more than 1,000 retail locations to the more than 2 million people already using mig33 across the country. The company is actively working to expand its presence in the area and hopes to announce similar partnerships in the coming months.

LOS ANGELES, January 16 /PRNewswire/ --

- Industry veteran joins Bunkspeed team; sees company's rendering technology as 'provoking major change' in digital design

Bunkspeed, Inc. announced today that Michael Check has joined the company as President of its Automotive and Transportation business. His focus will be to broaden Bunkspeed's already expansive roster of transportation customers, which includes Ford Motor Company, Chrysler, BMW, Pininfarina, Nissan, Honda, and others.