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Cracked: 30 Year-Old Cryptography System

Cracked: 30 Year-Old Cryptography System

Oct 28 2008 | comment(s)

Dublin City University (DCU) researchers, Neill Costigan, PhD student at DCU and funded by the Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology (IRCSET) and Prof Michael Scott member of the Science Foundation Ireland (SFI)-funded Shannon Institute of Cryptography, have successfully cracked a crypto system published thirty years ago by coding theorist Robert J McEliece.

The crack which was accomplished using resources at the SFI-Funded Irish Centre for High End Computing was announced at the Post-Quantum Cryptography conference in Cincinnati, USA on Saturday 18 October.
Water On Mars A Billion Years Later Than Previously Believed

Water On Mars A Billion Years Later Than Previously Believed

Oct 28 2008 | comment(s)

NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has observed a new category of minerals spread across large regions of Mars. This discovery suggests that liquid water remained on the planet's surface a billion years later than scientists believed, and it played an important role in shaping the planet's surface and possibly hosting life. 

Researchers examining data from the orbiter's Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars have found evidence of hydrated silica, commonly known as opal. The hydrated, or water-containing, mineral deposits are telltale signs of where and when water was present on ancient Mars. 
Unite NHS Pay Ballot Opens Today

Unite NHS Pay Ballot Opens Today

Oct 28 2008 | comment(s)

LONDON, October 28 /PRNewswire/ --

LONDON, October 28 /PRNewswire/ --

- Health Workers Urged to Vote 'YES' for Industrial Action

The NHS ballot calling for industrial action on the 'derisory' three-year pay deal, organised by Unite the Union, starts today (Tuesday, 28 October).

A total of 100,000 ballot papers will be landing on the doormats of Unite members, working in the NHS, from this morning. The ballot closes on Wednesday, 12 November.

Unite is asking its members whether they are prepared to take industrial action, including strike action in protest at the deal imposed unilaterally on the NHS workforce by ministers.

The three year package is worth half the current rate of inflation, which this month broke through the 5% barrier.

Receding Arctic Ice Not The Only Problem - It's Also Thinning

Receding Arctic Ice Not The Only Problem - It's Also Thinning

Oct 28 2008 | comment(s)

Last winter, the thickness of sea ice in large parts of the Arctic fell by nearly half a metre (19 per cent) compared with the average thickness of the previous five winters. This followed the dramatic 2007 summer low when Arctic ice extent dropped to its lowest level since records began. 

Up until last winter, the thickness of Arctic sea ice showed a slow downward trend during the previous five winters, but after the summer 2007 record low extent, the thickness of the ice also nose-dived. What is concerning is that sea ice is not just receding but it is also thinning. 
Methamphetamine Gateway To Underage Sex, Smoking And Drinking

Methamphetamine Gateway To Underage Sex, Smoking And Drinking

Oct 28 2008 | comment(s)

Children and adolescents who abuse alcohol or are sexually active are more likely to take methamphetamines (MA), also known as ‘meth’ or ‘speed’. Research published today in the open access journal BMC Pediatrics reveals the risk factors associated with MA use, in both low-risk children (those who don’t take drugs) and high-risk children (those who have taken other drugs or who have ever attended juvenile detention centres).
Electric Brain Stimulation Can Improve Dexterity

Electric Brain Stimulation Can Improve Dexterity

Oct 28 2008 | comment(s)

Applying electrical stimulation to the scalp and the underlying motor regions of the brain could make you more skilled at delicate tasks. Research published today in the open access journal BMC Neuroscience shows that a non-invasive brain-stimulation technique, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), is able to improve the use of a person’s non-dominant hand. 
Telefonica Announces Extension Of The Tender Offer To Acquire 100% Of The Shares Of Compania De Telecomunicaciones De Chile S.A.

Telefonica Announces Extension Of The Tender Offer To Acquire 100% Of The Shares Of Compania De Telecomunicaciones De Chile S.A.

Oct 27 2008 | comment(s)

MADRID, Spain, October 28 /PRNewswire/ --

-- The Expiration Date of the U.S. Offer has been extended until 12:00 midnight, New York City time, on October 31, 2008.

Telefonica S.A. (Telefonica) announced today that the U.S. Offer would be extended to 12:00 midnight, New York City time, on October 31, 2008.

The Chilean Offer will expire at 11:00 p.m., New York City time, on October 30, 2008.

Credit Suisse Repurchases Auction Rate Securities (ARS) From Rosetta Genomics

Credit Suisse Repurchases Auction Rate Securities (ARS) From Rosetta Genomics

Oct 27 2008 | comment(s)

REHOVOT, Israel and JERSEY CITY, New Jersey, October 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Rosetta Genomics Ltd. (Nasdaq:ROSG), a leader in the development of microRNA-based diagnostics and therapeutics, today announced that Credit Suisse, as part of a settlement agreement it has reached with the Attorney General of the State of New York and the North American Securities Administrators Association Task Force, has begun to repurchase Rosetta Genomics ARS. So far, Credit Suisse has repurchased $2.7M worth of the $7.5M in ARS held by Rosetta Genomics.

Albemarle Launches New ActivCat(TM) Technology

Albemarle Launches New ActivCat(TM) Technology

Oct 27 2008 | comment(s)

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana, October 27 /PRNewswire/ --

- Breakthrough Activation Technology Doubles Catalyst Activity without Modifying Target Resin Properties

Albemarle Corporation (NYSE: ALB) a global leader in supported single-site catalyst production and metallocene catalyst components, has created a revolutionary new activator/single-site catalyst program that delivers twice the typical productivity of conventional products.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050801/ALBEMARLELOGO )

Evolutionary Genetics And The War Against Viruses

Evolutionary Genetics And The War Against Viruses

Oct 27 2008 | comment(s)

Viruses are nasty opponents, as anyone who has followed the battles against influenza, SARs and HIV/AIDS can attest. They are diverse and in many cases evolve at rates that confound efforts to contain them. Anyone who has gotten a flu shot, and then came down with the flu a few months later because the “strain” of virus that the vaccine was not the same as the “strain” that they were infected with, knows just how fast viruses can evolve. In many cases, medical professional never really know which virus has caused the symptoms in their patients, and this complicates treatment and often leads to the misuse of antibiotics, which, of course, are never effective against viruses.
Can IPS Replace The Need For Embryonic Stem Cells?

Can IPS Replace The Need For Embryonic Stem Cells?

Oct 27 2008 | comment(s)

Since their discovery, stem cells have been hailed as the ultimate answer for crippling and incurable diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other conditions that leave vital organs like heart or nerves damaged beyond repair. Researchers from the University of Cambridge, under the leadership of Professor Austin Smith, Director of the Wellcome Trust Centre for Stem Cell Research at the University of Cambridge, recently published a paper(1) detailing a new technology that can transform adult stem cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS). This technique is able to reliably reprogram adult cells into iPS rapidly and can forego the need to rely on mammalian embryos to generate pluripotent stem cells.
Stallergenes: Launch Of A Phase III Clinical Trial In Adults For Oralair(R) Grasses In The United States Operating Income Expected To Remain Stable In 2009

Stallergenes: Launch Of A Phase III Clinical Trial In Adults For Oralair(R) Grasses In The United States Operating Income Expected To Remain Stable In 2009

Oct 27 2008 | comment(s)

ANTONY, France, October 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Stallergenes has just obtained authorization (IND(1)) from the FDA for immediately launching a phase III clinical trial in the United States with Oralair(R) Grasses in the treatment of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis to grass pollens in adults.

The aim of the study, which will be conducted in 450 American patients during the 2009 pollen season, is to confirm the efficacy and good tolerance of the product in adults and to support the application for authorization to market it in the United States.

Phase 3 Data Indicate Investigational 13-valent Vaccine May Broaden Protection Against Pneumoccocal Disease In Children Younger Than Two

Phase 3 Data Indicate Investigational 13-valent Vaccine May Broaden Protection Against Pneumoccocal Disease In Children Younger Than Two

Oct 27 2008 | comment(s)

WASHINGTON, October 27 /PRNewswire/ --

- Data presented at the joint annual meeting of ICAAC and IDSA

- Results suggest candidate vaccine may be as effective as Prevnar for the seven shared serotypes, and provide expanded coverage for six additional serotypes

- Wyeth on track to complete U.S. filing for pediatric use in the first quarter of 2009, with other pediatric global filings expected at the same time, or possibly earlier

It's been called a fruit fly for a long time, even if it's not technically right

It's been called a fruit fly for a long time, even if it's not technically right

Oct 27 2008 | comment(s)

In the aftermath of the Palin fruit fly comment, some bloggers are knocking people for not knowing that the model organism D. melanogaster is technically not a fruit fly.

But the fact is that the confusing nomenclature isn't some recent mix-up - as we see in the paper everyone's citing, biology textbooks as early as 1923 have referred to Drosophila as fruit flies, and

Among 13 textbooks published after 1945, with one exception all use fruit fly as the common name... Noteworthy is the finding that even the Entomological Society of America has been seduced. Its list of common names of insects assigns small (sic!) fruit flies to the Drosophlidae and other fruit flies to the Tephritidae.


So it's not unreasonable at all, when someone refers to "fruit fly research," to assume that this person is referring to one of the world's most widely used model organisms.
Demonstration And Lobby To Restore Pleural Plaques Compensation

Demonstration And Lobby To Restore Pleural Plaques Compensation

Oct 27 2008 | comment(s)

LONDON, October 27 /PRNewswire/ --

- Unite Photo Opportunity:

LOCATION: Old Palace Yard/College Green, Westminster, SW1A. DATE: Tuesday 28th October, 2008. TIME: from 1.00pm.

Hundreds of union members will descend on Westminster tomorrow (Tuesday, 28th) to lobby Parliament to demand justice for asbestos victims and the restoration of compensation for victims of pleural plaques.

Unite believe thousands of seriously wronged workers have been plunged into compensation limbo by the House of Lords decision, in October 2007, which ended the right of asbestos victims suffering from this disease to compensation.

SRMG Establishes Middle East's First Content Joint Venture With Saudi Telecom And Malaysia's ASTRO

SRMG Establishes Middle East's First Content Joint Venture With Saudi Telecom And Malaysia's ASTRO

Oct 27 2008 | comment(s)

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, October 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Saudi Research and Marketing Group (SRMG), the largest integrated publishing group in the Middle East, announced the establishment of a joint venture with Saudi Arabia's leading telecommunications company, Saudi Telecom (STC) and ALL ASIA NETWORKS plc (ASTRO), a leading cross-media operator with operations in Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and India.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081027/325985 )

This new Content Joint Venture (CJV), which will be based in Dubai, creates the first Content Aggregator in the Middle East and North Africa Region.

Canadian Destroyer Conducts First Ship Trials With Northrop Grumman Inertial Navigation And Data Distribution System

Canadian Destroyer Conducts First Ship Trials With Northrop Grumman Inertial Navigation And Data Distribution System

Oct 27 2008 | comment(s)

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia, October 27 /PRNewswire/ --

A Canadian Navy destroyer just completed the first successful sea trials with a new-generation inertial navigation system (INS) and data distribution network supplied by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC).

The Iroquois-class destroyer, HMCS Athabaskan, is the first naval ship to go to sea with the MK49 ring-laser gyro navigator (RLGN) INS and Navigation Data Distribution System (NavDDS). The systems were developed by Northrop Grumman's Sperry Marine business unit.

Playlogic To Continue First Party Development For Sony Computer Entertainment Europe

Playlogic To Continue First Party Development For Sony Computer Entertainment Europe

Oct 27 2008 | comment(s)

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands and NEW YORK, October 27 /PRNewswire/ --

Game Publisher Playlogic Entertainment, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: PLGC) today announces that its in-house studio, Playlogic Game Factory, continues its collaboration with SCEE London Studio's First Party development team, part of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Limited (SCEE).

Playlogic Game Factory recently completed the development on EyeToy(R) Pom Pom Party(c) for the PlayStation(R)2 which will be released this quarter.

Furthermore, the Playlogic Game Factory has been assisting SCEE London Studio with the development of the recently announced EyePet(TM). The collaboration on the development of this project will continue into 2009.

Gategroup Announces Organization Changes

Gategroup Announces Organization Changes

Oct 27 2008 | comment(s)

ZURICH, Switzerland, October 27 /PRNewswire/ --

gategroup, the leading global provider of above-the-wing services to the airline industry, today announced a consolidation of two European operating divisions, the creation of a region focusing on the Middle East and South Asia, and the formation of a seven-member core Executive Board to focus on the group's operational and commercial priorities.

Two European divisions will be combined into a single Europe and Africa Region and a new region is being created as of Nov. 1, 2008, to cover the growing Middle East and South Asia markets.

Potentia Pharmaceuticals To Present ASaP Phase I Clinical Trial Data For POT-4 At The American Academy Of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting

Potentia Pharmaceuticals To Present ASaP Phase I Clinical Trial Data For POT-4 At The American Academy Of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting

Oct 27 2008 | comment(s)

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky, October 27 /PRNewswire/ --

- POT-4 is the first complement inhibitor to be tested in AMD patients

Potentia Pharmaceuticals, a privately held biotechnology company developing medicines for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), announced today that the Company will be presenting its ASaP Phase I clinical data for its leading drug candidate, POT-4, during the Retina Subspecialty Day at the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) Annual Meeting in Atlanta, GA, on November 7, 2008.