Philadelphia, PA - Phthalates are important components of many consumer products, including toys, cleaning materials, plastics, and personal care items. Studies to date on phthalates have been inconsistent, with some linking exposure to these chemicals to hormone disruptions, birth defects, asthma, and reproductive problems, while others have found no significant association between exposure and adverse effects.

A new report by Korean scientists, published by Elsevier in the November 15th issue of Biological Psychiatry, adds to the potentially alarming findings about phthalates. They measured urine phthalate concentrations and evaluated symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) using teacher-reported symptoms and computerized tests that measured attention and impulsivity.

They found a significant positive association between phthalate exposure and ADHD, meaning that the higher the concentration of phthalate metabolites in the urine, the worse the ADHD symptoms and/or test scores.

Senior author Yun-Chul Hong, MD, PhD, explained that 'these data represent the first documented association between phthalate exposure and ADHD symptoms in school-aged children.' John Krystal, MD, the Editor of Biological Psychiatry, also commented: 'This emerging link between phthalates and symptoms of ADHD raises the concern that accidental environmental exposure to phthalates may be contributing to behavioral and cognitive problems in children. This concern calls for more definitive research.'
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in the Summary of their 2005 Third National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals, state that 'very limited scientific information is available on potential human health effects of phthalates at levels' found in the U.S. population. Although this study was performed in a Korean population, their levels of exposure are likely comparable to a U.S. population.

The current findings do not prove that phthalate exposure caused ADHD symptoms. However, these initial findings provide a rationale for further research on this association.

# # #

Notes to Editors:
The article is 'Phthalates Exposure and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in School-Age Children' by Bung-Nyun Kim, Soo-Churl Cho, Yeni Kim, Min-Sup Shin, Hee-Jeong Yoo, Jae-Won Kim, Young Hee Yang, Hyo-Won Kim, Soo-Young Bhang, and Yun-Chul Hong. B-N Kim, S-C Cho, Y Kim, M-S Shin, J-W Kim, Y H Yang, and H-W Kim are affiliated with the Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Institute of Human Behavioral Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. H-J Yoo is from the Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seong-nam, Republic of Korea. Y-C Hong is with the Department of Preventive Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine and Institute of Environmental Medicine, SNUMRC, Seoul, Republic of Korea. S-Y Bhang is affiliated with the Department of Psychiatry, Ulsan University Hospital, Ulsan, Republic of Korea. The article appears in Biological Psychiatry, Volume 66, Issue 10 (November 15, 2009), published by Elsevier.

The authors' disclosures of financial and conflicts of interests are available in the article.

John H. Krystal, M.D. is Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at the Yale University School of Medicine and a research psychiatrist at the VA Connecticut Healthcare System. His disclosures of financial and conflicts of interests are available at http://journals.elsevierhealth.com/webfiles/images/journals/bps/Biological_Psychiatry_Editorial_Disclosures_08_01_09.pdf.

Full text of the article mentioned above is available upon request. Contact Jayne M. Dawkins at ja.dawkins@elsevier.com to obtain a copy or to schedule an interview.

About Biological Psychiatry
This international rapid-publication journal is the official journal of the Society of Biological Psychiatry. It covers a broad range of topics in psychiatric neuroscience and therapeutics. Both basic and clinical contributions are encouraged from all disciplines and research areas relevant to the pathophysiology and treatment of major neuropsychiatric disorders. Full-length and Brief Reports of novel results, Commentaries, Case Studies of unusual significance, and Correspondence and Comments judged to be of high impact to the field are published, particularly those addressing genetic and environmental risk factors, neural circuitry and neurochemistry, and important new therapeutic approaches. Concise Reviews and Editorials that focus on topics of current research and interest are also published rapidly.

Biological Psychiatry is ranked 4th out of the 101 Psychiatry titles and 14th out of 219 Neurosciences titles on the 2008 ISI Journal Citations Reports® published by Thomson Scientific.

About Elsevier
Elsevier is a world-leading publisher of scientific, technical and medical information products and services. The company works in partnership with the global science and health communities to publish more than 2,000 journals, including The Lancet and Cell, and close to 20,000 book titles, including major reference works from Mosby and Saunders. Elsevier's online solutions include ScienceDirect, Scopus, Reaxys, MD Consult and Nursing Consult, which enhance the productivity of science and health professionals, and the SciVal suite and MEDai's Pinpoint Review, which help research and health care institutions deliver better outcomes more cost-effectively.

A global business headquartered in Amsterdam, Elsevier employs 7,000 people worldwide. The company is part of Reed Elsevier Group PLC, a world-leading publisher and information provider, which is jointly owned by Reed Elsevier PLC and Reed Elsevier NV. The ticker symbols are REN (Euronext Amsterdam), REL (London Stock Exchange), RUK and ENL (New York Stock Exchange).

— WebWireID108235 —

Professional photographers from around the world donated over $565,000 worth of custom portraits to deserving families in 2009 and expect to double that number in 2010.

Essential Imagery welcomes you to nominate a family who would cherish the gift of custom photography by visiting www.givingisawesome.com. To apply for Essential Imagery's giveaway, visit www.essentialimagery.com/blog.

— WebWireID108198 —

* Mass Animation's innovative animated short film, "Live Music," is now showing in select theaters nationwide.
* Animators from around the world collaborated on the Facebook Platform and used Autodesk Maya software to help create this first short film of its kind.
* "Live Music," sponsored by Intel, consists of the work of 51 animators from 17 countries, including both established 3-D artists and budding animators.

SANTA CLARA, Calif., - "Live Music," an innovative new animated short film from Mass Animation and sponsored by Intel Corporation, opens in select theaters nationwide today, marking a giant leap in the growing area of collaborative content creation.

Brought to life by Intel, this pioneering wiki project empowered animators from around the world to collaborate using a unique application built on the Facebook Platform. "Live Music" is playing in 400 U.S. theaters with TriStar Pictures' animated feature "Planet 51."

In the first-ever "day and date" theatrical and download distribution, "Live Music" is available today for download from iTunes and www.myxer.com for the mobile platform. Fans can also visit www.myxer.com to download free "Live Music" ringtones and wallpapers.

The final film reflects the creative work of 51 animators from 17 countries. The unique production of "Live Music" through the Facebook Platform attracted a diverse group of global animators who brought their talents to the project. Said Jim Donovan of Colorado, "'Live Music' is the most rewarding project I have worked on as a 3-D artist." Another animator whose work made the cut, Sarah Knight of England, said, "I was grateful and excited to be included in such an awesome experiment." Adding his comments, Florida resident Zach Hansen said, "I am going to be the first out of my class to have their name in credits in movie theaters, and that is very exciting for me."

"In the making of 'Live Music,' we saw clearly that there are lots of talented artists around the world who don't have access to traditional animation opportunities and who were excited about working on this innovative indie project with us and our visual effects partners at Reel FX," said Yair Landau, founder of Mass Animation and former vice chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment. "We are incredibly grateful to all of the talented animators and artists around the world who joined us on this journey and look forward to collaborating on Mass Animation 2.0."

An international jury of animation experts selected the best shots to be considered for the film. As director, Landau had the final say as to which submissions made the final cut. Animators whose work made it into the finished product received on-screen credit and cash compensation. In addition, animators whose creation was rated best by the community on a weekly basis received cash prizes from Dell and Intel with which they could purchase Intel® Core™ i7 processor-based Dell Studio XPS systems.

"Empowering people with the technology that enables them to achieve their full creative potential has always been a driving force at Intel," said Deborah Conrad, Intel vice president and general manager, Corporate Marketing Group. "Our support for Mass Animation, as the first collaborative, worldwide effort of its kind, is part of our long heritage of cultivating innovation and collaboration in its many forms around the globe."

Produced by Landau and Jacquie Barnbrook, "Live Music" is a 5 1/2-minute computer-generated animated short inspired by Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" and early CGI films. Set in a musical instrument store, the story follows Riff, a rock 'n' roll guitar, who, as Landau describes it, "falls in love to the wrong song but ends up with Vanessa, the classical violin of his dreams." The story is conveyed through the universal language of music, allowing the expressions and actions of the characters to be instantly relatable globally. The instruments are brought to life through original compositions and familiar rock tunes played principally by legendary guitarist Steve Vai as Riff and acclaimed violinist Ann Marie Calhoun as Vanessa.

Along with Intel and thousands of participants in the project, Mass Animation's partners in making "Live Music" included Dell, Autodesk and Reel FX.

About Intel
Intel (NASDAQ: INTC), the world leader in silicon innovation, develops technologies, products and initiatives to continually advance how people work and live. Additional information about Intel is available at www.intel.com/pressroom and blogs.intel.com.

Intel and the Intel logo are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the United States and other countries.

Autodesk and Maya are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries.

* Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.

— WebWireID108227 —

The creators of Christmas Music Tree decided to adapt the application for the general web public, so that people without facebook accounts can enjoy listening to the vast collection of Christmas songs.

The homepage of christmasmusictree.com offers 30 second previews of all the Christmas songs available through the site. Users can then add their favorite songs to their playlist.

Other features of the free Christmas Music Tree web application includes:

- Select a Christmas tree background
- Invite friends to the tree and share the playlist
- Dedicate songs to friends and family

Christmas Music Tree is the place to enjoy Christmas Music for hours and share it with friends.

http://christmasmusictree.com

— WebWireID108148 —

According to a recent report commissioned by Becta into parent teacher relationships, forty-two percent of teaching staff said they feel these parents lack the confidence to approach them to discuss their child and forty-three percent even admit that parents might find them 'difficult to approach sometimes'.

Becta is the government agency aiming to promote and achieve the productive and innovative use of technology throughout the teaching and learning process. The Schools & Parents: A New Partnership report is part of the 'Next Generation Learning' campaign, which encourages parents to contact their child's school in order to establish how and if technology is already being used, and how it can improve communications between them and their child's school in future.

Becta's report also reveals that fifty-nine percent of parents admit to being in contact with their child's school just once a term or less with more than twenty-two percent of this number saying they did not see how being in regular contact with their child's school has any benefit for their child. A large majority (67 percent) of school staff questioned said that these parents simply do not realise how important parental support is to their child's development. Even though it has been proved in numerous studies that parental involvement is key to a child's educational success, it seems that many parents just aren't aware of how important their role is.

Sixty percent of teachers questioned believe the reason some parents are not in regular contact with them is because they think their job stops at the school gates. This is backed up by some parents who say they rarely get in contact with their child's school because they believe teachers should be in charge of their child's education.

The comprehensive study also highlights the vast majority (54 percent) of school staff involved said they thought parents were just too busy to engage with their child's school but only eight percent of parents say the reason they don't get in touch regularly is because they 'struggle to find time', suggesting that there are other factors behind their lack of engagement.

To view the Becta Schools & Parents: A New Partnership or for more details about Becta and the 'Next Generation Learning' campaign visit www.nextgenerationlearning.org.uk

For more information, please contact:

Sophie Jackson 0207 025 6412 / Sophie.jackson@redconsultancy.com

Catherine Sharrott 0207 025 6589 / Catherine.Sharrott@redconsultancy.com

Kate Cox 02476 797146 / Kate.Cox@becta.org.uk

— WebWireID108163 —

1. Don't focus on body image. Comments about weight should be avoided. Instead consider compliments such as, "You look healthy and happy!"
2. Don't watch what others eat. If someone wants to eat more or less than you during the holidays, do not make that the focus of your concern. If you focus on what you are eating, you can set a healthy example. If you tell others to eat more or less, you are adding pressure to those who are already struggling with eating issues.
3. Thanksgiving is a day of eating. If you have eating issues, then understand that Thanksgiving is the most difficult day of the year for you. See this day as a good challenge for you and all the people around the world who struggle with eating disorders. You are not alone.
4. Create your own bubble of comfort. Set your own eating boundaries and do not allow the comments or expectations of others to change what is comfortable for you. If you give yourself the freedom to say "no" to others who are trying to get you to eat more, then you can feel good about not letting others push you out of your comfort zone.
5. Allow yourself to be human. Allow yourself the freedom to have some stress and not react perfectly especially during the most difficult holiday for people with eating issues.

If you need more help, find an eating disorder treatment professional in your area by using the easiest and most comprehensive treatment search site on the Internet, www.edreferral.com. This is the site that has been helping others find ED treatment since 1999 and is used by most eating disorder professionals.

Christine Hartline, MA Director, EDReferral.com

EDReferral.com is a free service that helps people with eating disorders. Referrals are available 24 hours a day for those seeking help with Anorexia, Bulimia, Obesity, Binge Eating Disorder and many other eating disorders. EDReferral.com was founded by Christine Hartline, MA, who herself had an eating disorder and found it difficult to find assistance. She now runs the world's largest and most respected referral service for eating disorder treatment. "EDReferral.com helps thousands of individuals every single day," said Ms. Hartline, "Not only in the U.S. but all across the world...we are providing hope for recovery." The respect placed on EDReferral.com is not only due to the amazing efforts of Ms. Hartline, but also because many in the eating disorder field applaud the fact that EDReferral.com is not affiliated with any one treatment center. "There are a few organizations that say they are a referral service, but they only point you to their own treatment center in the end," said Dr. Kevin Grold who is the Chief Administrator of the ever-expanding service. Dr. Grold: 'We try to make EDReferral.com as easy to use and friendly as we can because we know that those seeking treatment are already a bit stressed." "We hear over and over how the holidays -- with the family meals --are an especially trying time for those who are trying to recover from an eating disorder. It is simple to find help when every therapist, treatment center, and support group are all listed in one place. EDReferral.com makes it easy to start on the path toward recovery.'

www.edreferral.com

— WebWireID108015 —

BENTONVILLE, Ark. - Focused on bringing families tremendous savings this holiday season on entertainment for all ages, Walmart (NYSE: WMT) today announced that starting Saturday, Nov. 21, Walmart stores will introduce savings resembling the day-after-Thanksgiving prices on select toys and entertainment, one week early.* Special items include popular dolls and activity toys, a 26-inch Vizio HDTV, and gaming packages from Guitar Hero, Band Hero and DJ Hero with a $40 Walmart Gift Card.

'We promised amazing savings each week in November and December and will deliver on that promise for our customers,' said Gary Severson, senior vice president of Entertainment, Walmart U.S. 'Shoppers who want to get a jump start this weekend can find values in Entertainment they would expect to see after Thanksgiving Day. We will continue to deliver amazing savings on popular items, and to do so often.'

Even though half of Walmart moms intend to shop on Thanksgiving weekend, more than half say they aspire to complete all their holiday shopping by the end of next week.** Anticipating customer needs this year, Walmart has announced savings each week providing families early assistance on great gifts. This weekend customers will see savings on select items up to 50 percent – in advance of Thanksgiving weekend.

Below are a few examples of these early savings, starting Saturday, Nov. 21, through Nov. 27:
Toys:

* Li'l Luvables Studio – was $20, now $8 (60% savings)
* EZ Bake Oven – was $28, now $16 (40% savings)
* Little Dreams 22' Doll – was $15, now $8 (47% savings)
* Baby Alive Newborn Doll – was $15, now $8 (47% savings)
* Nerf Capture the Flag – was $39, now $19 (51% savings)
* Air Hogs Laser Zero Gravity Remote-controlled Vehicle – was $34, now $19 (44% savings)
* Barbie Generation of Dreams Collectors Doll – was $49, now $25 (49% savings)
* Disney Princess Scooter – was $129, now $99 (23% savings)
* Nerf N-Strike Vulcan – was $42.97, now $25 (42% savings)
* HDTV Savings
* 26" Vizio LCD HDTV (720p model,) -- was $347, now $248, (28% savings, limit two per person)

$40 Gift Card with 'Hero' Game Packages
Walmart customers who purchase these gaming packages will receive a $40 Walmart Gift Card while supplies last***:

* Band Hero - Includes drum and guitar controllers, microphone and game (ESRB: E10+)
o PS3, Xbox 360, and Wii - $199.00 plus $40 Walmart Gift Card
o PS2 - $179.00 plus $40 Walmart Gift Card
* DJ Hero - Includes turntable controller and game (ESRB: T)
o PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii - $119.00 plus $40 Walmart Gift Card
o PS2 - $99.00 plus $40 Walmart Gift Card
* Guitar Hero 5 - Includes guitar controller and game (ESRB: T)
o PS3, Xbox 360, and Wii - $99.00 plus $40 Walmart Gift Card
o PS2 - $89.00 plus $40 Walmart Gift Card

Shoppers can find more information about Walmart's weekly holiday price events and savings this season by going to www.walmart.com/holidaysavings.

* Prices good from Nov. 21 to Nov. 27. Quantities of all items are limited. No rainchecks. Offer not valid in Puerto Rico or on Walmart.com. Prices and availability may vary in Hawaii, Oklahoma and Wisconsin.
** Walmart Customer Insights, October 2009
*** Gift Card offering not available in Hawaii, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin due to state restrictions. We may limit the number of items purchased per customer. Void where prohibited.

About Walmart
Every week, millions of customers visit Walmart stores, Neighborhood Markets, and Sam's Club locations across America or log on to its online store at www.walmart.com. The company and its Foundation are committed to a philosophy of giving back locally. Walmart is proud to support the causes that are important to customers and associates right in their own neighborhoods, and last year gave more than $378 million to local communities in the United States. More information about Walmart can be found by visiting www.walmartstores.com.

— WebWireID107999 —

NEW YORK — Young adults are more likely to purchase a product or service based on the recommendation of a celebrity endorser than older shoppers, according to a new study by leading media agency Mediaedge:cia (MEC).

The report revealed that 30 percent of respondents aged 18-34 said they would try a product promoted by an admired celebrity compared to 14 percent of consumers in the 35-54 age group and 11 percent of respondents aged 55-plus. Additionally, the survey showed that the younger group was also almost 50 percent more likely than their older counterparts to recommend a celebrity-endorsed product to others.

Those were only some of the findings of the wide-ranging report, dubbed MEC's Celebrity Endorsement SENSOR™, which was conducted in early 2009 among a nationally representative sample of U.S. consumers aged 18 years and older.

Other survey findings included the following:

• The majority of Americans pursue celebrities via news outlets (58 percent), and information on the Internet (31 percent)

• Adults ages 18-34 and men are most likely to engage with celebrities via digitally related activities such as posting comments on blogs that cover celebrities, becoming a 'friend' of a celebrity on a social networking site, and forwarding a celebrity link, picture or video to others online

• Interest in celebrities declines significantly as consumers get older

The report also revealed that 35 percent of respondents believe celebrity endorsements improve a brand's awareness, help define its personality, and generate interest.

But the survey also revealed an important caveat about using celebrity endorsers that advertisers should keep in mind: More than half of those surveyed (53 percent) said they have trouble remembering which celebrities are endorsing which brands and only notice a brand if it's in a category they are interested in.

'Although 25 percent of all adults have had their purchase influenced, either positively or negatively, by celebrity endorsers, advertisers have to be selective in their choice of celebrities,' said Fran Kennish, Strategic Planning Director for Mediaedge:cia, who reported the study's findings along with MEC MediaLab Supervisor Ed Kavilanz. 'A careful match of the celebrity personality, the category and the brand they represent, and the consumer can magnify the value and the effectiveness of celebrities as a communication vehicle.'

The survey also showed that not all product and service categories are created equal as far as celebrity endorsements are concerned: fashion, beauty/fragrance, luxury goods and sporting equipment get the most benefit from celebrity endorsement

For most categories, celebrity endorsers ranked low against 23 other purchase influencers, losing out to other factors and touch points like pricing, TV ads and product reviews. But when viewed against fashion, beauty/fragrance, luxury goods and sporting equipment celebrity endorsements have a stronger influence, ranking in the top 10 purchase influencing factors.

'There's no doubt that celebrity endorsement can play a valuable and important role in today's complex marketing environment,' said Kennish. 'Celebrity endorsement drives brand saliency, can evoke closer consumer engagement with the brand and, under optimal conditions, drives purchase. But marketers need to remember that it resonates more with specifically defined audiences where an underlying connection between the consumer and the celebrity already exists.'

The survey was part of a larger, global study of celebrity endorsements by MEC MediaLab of more than 24,000 consumers across 25 countries. That study showed that while celebrity endorsement is still an effective marketing tool, consumer appetite for it is waning.

Almost a third of consumers (29 percent) across the globe said that celebrity endorsements influence their purchasing decisions and one in four (25 percent) have bought a product because a celebrity was promoting it. But the majority (65 percent) of respondents said they believe that too many products are promoted by celebrities in their country.

'While the impact of celebrity endorsement may be waning, it remains an important and effective marketing tool for many brands,' said Damian Thompson, global head of consumer insight at MEC . 'However, it appears that interest in celebrity culture has peaked in some countries and marketers need to be more strategic in their use of celebrity endorsements. They must analyze and understand the fit between celebrity, brand, and consumer—along with a celebrity's relationship with the media—to implement a well thought-through activation plan and measurable return.'

ABOUT MEDIAEDGE:CIA
Mediaedge:cia (MEC) gets consumers actively engaged with clients' brands, leading to positive awareness, deeper relationships and stronger sales. Our services include brand and consumer insight and ROI, communications planning, media planning and buying, interaction (digital, direct, search), sport, entertainment and cause partnerships, retail consultancy and Hispanic marketing. Our 4,500 highly talented and motivated people work with local, regional and global clients from our 250 offices in 84 countries. We are a founding partner of GroupM, WPP's media investment management group.
To find out more go to: www.mecglobal.com

— WebWireID107996 —

@North will reach out to new and established digital producers and agencies across the whole of the north in a link up with BBC Children's – one of the departments moving to Salford in 2011.

@North will encourage and support the development and delivery of interactive content for children, with up to four projects with a total budget of £500,000 available for commissions by CBBC and CBeebies.

The project, which represents a new model of engagement with independent companies and digital agencies across the North, will rely on close collaboration with the regional screen agencies – North West Vision and Media, Northern Film and Media and Screen Yorkshire.

This pilot project will be led by BBC Children's and will involve multi-disciplinary teams from many other areas of the BBC such as Future, Media and Technology (FM&T) in new collaborative ways of working.

The key objectives for the project are:

For CBBC andCBeebies to tap into new opportunities for innovation and creativity.

To stimulate and inspire the digital sector across the North of England, initially focusing on creating new children's content.

To understand and help develop the supply chain across the North for the BBC and build on existing creativity and skills.

To make the BBC North process for commissioning multiplatform content open and collaborative.

To share knowledge about the BBC's infrastructure, processes and audiences.

It is intended that @North will provide a blueprint of how BBC North can work more openly in MediaCityUK and will involve more BBC division partners as it develops.

Commenting on @North, Peter Salmon said: "This is an exciting new concept and there is real business up for grabs, with CBBC and CBeebies commissions to be won by creative organisations working on interactive media across the North of England. There is some great creative work going on in the digital sector across the North and we want to work in partnership to develop new and exciting multiplatform content for our young audiences."

Independent companies and digital agencies in the North are invited to send expressions of interest in the @North project to Mario Dubois, Project Lead – mario.dubois@bbc.co.uk.

— WebWireID107994 —

LOS ANGELES - TOMY Corporation today announced that the latest installment in the critically acclaimed fighting game series NARUTO™ Shippuden: Clash of Ninja® Revolution 3 is now available at retail outlets nationwide, exclusively for Wii™. Clash of Ninja Revolution 3 delivers an overhauled fighting engine with 40 playable characters that follows the storyline of the much-loved animated series from Viz Media currently airing on Disney XD.

"In Clash of Ninja Revolution 3 we're raising the bar again, delivering a highly competitive 3D fighting game, 40 balanced and varied characters, Wi-Fi multiplayer functionality, new modes and gameplay mechanics," said Laura Yoshioka, director of consumer software at TOMY Corporation. "We've taken great care to make sure this next installment of the critically acclaimed Clash of Ninja series delivers NARUTO fans and fighting game fans alike with a gaming experience worthy of their hard-earned dollars."

In Clash of Ninja Revolution 3 gamers will get to experience the new and improved gameplay mechanics added to the hit series along with a slew of gameplay modes and options. For the very first time, the game will also feature Wi-Fi multiplayer modes, enabling players to take the fight online and battle head-to-head or in two-man squad battles. The game also features cooperative tag team battles for up to four players, allowing friends to compete on two-man teams and tag in and out with each other. As an added bonus, new latent ninja powers allow players to access not only special jutsu, but also experience more subtle effects that, if used strategically, can make the difference between winning and losing. Naruto Shippūden: Clash of Ninja Revolution 3 also boasts 40 3D environments with nine completely new stages for the fighters to choose from.

The standard edition of Naruto Shippūden: Clash of Ninja Revolution 3 for Wii is $39.99 MSRP and is rated "T" for Teen by the ESRB for Cartoon Violence and Mild Suggestive Themes. A limited edition of the game is also available for $49.99 MSRP exclusively at GameStop locations nationwide either in stores or online at http://www.gamestop.com. For more information, please visit www.TOMY-USA.com/videogames.

For additional assets and information, please visit the press site: http://bhimpact.gamespress.com/product_page.asp?i=948.

For more information on Naruto Shippūden, and to view subtitled Naruto Shippūden episodes please visit the official NARUTO Web site at http://www.naruto.com. The TV version of Naruto Shippūden can be watched on Disney XD every Wednesday. In addition, dubbed downloadable episodes are also available on iTunes. Classic NARUTO episodes can be viewed on hulu.com, and iTunes.

About TOMY Corporation
With U.S. headquarters in Santa Ana, California, TOMY Corporation is one of the world's oldest and most endearing entertainment companies. For more than eight decades, TOMY has developed and manufactured a broad portfolio of exciting and educational toys, games and video games for children of all ages. Known for its innovation, quality and safety, TOMY's mission is to produce videogames for North America that entertain and inspire children and adults. The Consumer Software Division currently publishes for Nintendo DS™ and Wii™, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, and the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. TOMY Corporation is a subsidiary of Japan-based TOMYCompany, Ltd. (aka TAKARATOMY in Japan). More information is available at www.TOMY-USA.com.

About Viz Media, LLC
Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, Viz Media, LLC (Viz Media), is one of the most comprehensive and innovative companies in the field of manga (graphic novel) publishing, animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese content. Owned by three of Japan's largest creators and licensors of manga and animation, Shueisha, Inc., Shogakukan, Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., Viz Media is a leader in the publishing and distribution of Japanese manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and South Africa and is a global ex-Asia licensor of Japanese manga and animation. The company offers an integrated product line including the popular monthly manga anthology SHONEN JUMP magazine, graphic novels, and DVDs, and develops, markets, licenses, and distributes animated entertainment for audiences and consumers of all ages. Contact Viz Media at 295 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133; Phone (415) 546-7073; Fax (415) 546-7086; and Web site at http://www.VIZ.com.

— WebWireID107992 —

In total 5,000 volunteers will man 52 call centres across the UK handling pledges made to the donation line. The eDonate platform can handle 500 transactions a second and 24,000 people can simultaneously input. As call centre volunteers input donation pledges directly into BT's eDonate platform, it removes the reliance on paperwork and speeds up the time it takes for pledges to be recorded and processed allowing the charity to access to the money quicker; it is also a more secure process.

Last year participating call centres handled more than 200,000 calls on the night and a record-breaking £20.8 million was pledged to positively change the lives of children and young people who have suffered hardships, difficulties or disadvantages of some kind.

BT has supported BBC Children in Need since the first telethon in 1980 and continues to provide support including; telephony, network management, call centres, volunteers and online support. Another exciting development for BT this year will see the LED display at the BT Tower in London used to profile the BBC Children in Need appeal with an animation of Pudsey Bear and the donation line number - 0345 733 2233.

Beth Courtier, community investment programme manager, said: 'BT's support is an essential and integral part of the appeal. The show is live and BBC Children in Need relies on the BT infrastructure and its people to deliver on the night. This year with donations from the public being directly input to BT's eDonate platform it will enhance the service we provide. BT supports charity telethons because this is where we can use our expertise to help make a difference to those in need. With BT's help,

BBC Children in Need is hoping to break the half a billion pound mark of the total funds raised since it began. This will be a milestone we can all be proud of.'

As with every telethon, BT employees are encouraged to have fun and raise funds. Research shows that 98 per cent of BT employees believe it is important that BT supports telethon events; 87 per cent felt more positive about BT as a result of the company's support for charity telethon appeals.

This years' BBC Children in Need appeal will be aired on the 20th of November. Cast members from EastEnders will be handling some calls from BT Tower and a host of other stars have pledged their support or committed to perform in aid of Children in Need including Pixie Lott, Paulo Nutini, Cheryl Cole, Westlife, Annie Lennox and Harry Connick Jnr. Everyone involved will help to raise money for BBC Children in Need, which works to help disadvantaged children and young people across the UK.

— WebWireID107991 —

"The 8- and 16-bit classics many gamers cut their teeth on are magical, down to their blocky sprites and elegantly simple gameplay," mused Aram Jabbari, Manager of PR and Sales for Atlus, while twirling his rattail and wearing a poorly coordinated denim-on-denim outfit. "3D Dot Game Heroes captures all of that legendary charm and more, bringing classic visuals, familar sounds, and a grand sense of exploration and discovery into stunning next-gen realization, all the while giving countless winks and nudges to the fans those iconic games mean the most to. This is pure action-adventure gaming at its finest, a true love-letter to a time-honored genre," he added while putting baseball cards in the spokes of his 10-speed.

Dripping with old school charm, classic gaming pizzazz, and pure retro sexy, 3D Dot Game Heroes is the ultimate homage to the industry's golden era.

3D Dot Game Heroes is scheduled to release on May 11, 2010 with an MSRP of $39.99.

For more information, visit the game's official website: http://www.3DDotGameHeroes.com

About 3D Dot Game Heroes
A long, long time ago, the Dark King Onyx brought an age of darkness upon Dotnia Kingdom. Only by the bravery of a hero with a legendary sword was Onyx sealed in an orb, restoring peace to the world. But Fuelle, a powerful Dark Bishop, has stolen the orb, and with it, peace. Dotnia requires a hero once more! Can you live up to the legend?

Key Features

* Ultimate retro love letter -- Seamlessly fusing new and old, the golden era of gaming is felt in every detail of this lovingly-crafted adventure. Eye-popping visuals capture the nostalgic charm of pixel graphics in cutting edge 3D. Simple, but deep action-adventure gameplay is a throwback to the 8-bit era. Veterans will find references and jokes that pay homage to the great games of yore.
* Awe and adventure live again -- Embark on the next generation of classic exploration and discovery in a grand story-based quest. A hero sets out to gain the power of the six sages and the six orbs that protected the kingdom of Dotnia, which now stands on the verge of destruction.
* Customize your hero -- When pixels are your building blocks, the possibilities are unlimited. Freely edit the look of your character, or design one completely from scratch, and then trade designs with friends via a compatible USB storage device. Your hero's blade is also upgradeable, letting you add length and width to create a sword that fills the whole screen!

3D Dot Game Heroes has not yet been rated by the ESRB.

About Atlus U.S.A., Inc.
Located in Irvine, California and founded in 1991, Atlus U.S.A., Inc. is renowned for its proud tradition of publishing exceptional role-playing games with strong niche appeal. The Atlus library of critically acclaimed video games includes Demon's Souls, Odin Sphere, the Trauma Center series, and the award-winning Shin Megami Tensei series. For more information, visit http://www.atlus.com.

For breaking news, special promotions, insider info, and more, visit http://www.atlus.com/faithful to join the ranks of the Atlus Faithful!

— WebWireID107979 —

The releases include a trio of books capturing the unique art and tender story of PONYO, the new animated film from the legendary Hayao Miyazaki. Fans of POKÉMON won't be disappointed with a variety of the latest manga editions along with puzzle books and a new posterzine, and THE LEGEND OF ZELDA fans can also look forward to a brand new manga adventure.

'These are all titles that parents can select with confidence for younger readers,' says Gonzalo Ferreyra Vice President, Sales & Marketing, VIZ Media 'From the gorgeously illustrated PONYO FILM COMIC and PICTURE BOOK, to the fun puzzles of LET'S FIND POKÉMON and the magical fantasy of THE LEGEND OF ZELDA, there are plenty of thoughtful selections to delight anyone on your holiday gift lists this year!'

PONYO FILM COMICS, Volumes 1-4 • Rated 'A' For All Ages •
MSRP: $9.99 US / $11.50 CAN each
From the Academy Award®-winning director and world-renowned Japanese animation legend Hayao Miyazaki comes PONYO, a story inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale 'The Little Mermaid.' A box-office success when it was released by Walt Disney Studios earlier this year, the film tells the story of a young and overeager goldfish named Ponyo and her quest to become human. The official 4-volume film comic of PONYO re-tells the film's story with vivid full-color frames.

PONYO PICTURE BOOK • Rated 'A' For All Ages •
MSRP: $19.99 US / $23.50 CAN
The colorful and easy-to-read PONYO Picture Book is a fabulous hardcover edition that will appeal especially to younger readers. The book uses the vividly colored animation cel art from the feature film combined with simplified text to retell the story of Ponyo and her adventures in the human world.

THE ART OF PONYO • Rated 'A' for All Ages • MSRP: $34.99 U.S. / $39.99 CAN
A comprehensive soft cover edition that features striking watercolor and pastel concept sketches and layout pages from the film, as well as interviews with production principals and the complete screenplay to give an inside look at the entire creative process behind PONYO.

THE LEGEND OF ZELDA, Volume 8 • Rated 'A' For All Ages •
MSRP: $7.99 US / $9.99 CAN
Enjoy the newest adventure in the official manga series based on the popular Nintendo video game.

POKÉMON POSTERZINE • Rated 'A' For All Ages •
MSRP: $9.99 US / $9.99 CAN
Packed with 11 full color fold-out posters, this large (16' x 22') edition is a must-have for any fan of Pikachu and his friends. A variety of favorite POKÉMON Platinum characters, from Pikachu and Piplup to Chimchar and Turtwig, are all featured.

LET'S FIND POKÉMON! RUBY & SAPPHIRE • Rated 'A' For All Ages •
MSRP: $11.99 US / $13.99 CAN
Look for Pikachu hiding among a variety of colorful puzzles and other games. Fun for adults too!

POKÉMON ADVENTURES, Vol. 3 • Rated 'A' For All Ages •
MSRP: $7.99 US / $9.99 CAN
This is the latest volume in the exciting POKÉMON manga series.

POKÉMON DIAMOND & PEARL ADVENTURE!, Vol. 5 • Rated 'A' For All Ages •
MSRP: $7.99 US / $9.99 CAN
Check out the latest volume in the exciting POKÉMON DIAMOND & PEARL manga series.

For information on VIZ Media titles, please visit www.VIZ.com.

About VIZ Media, LLC
Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), is one of the most comprehensive and innovative companies in the field of manga (graphic novel) publishing, animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese content. Owned by three of Japan's largest creators and licensors of manga and animation, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media is a leader in the publishing and distribution of Japanese manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and South Africa and is a global ex-Asia licensor of Japanese manga and animation. The company offers an integrated product line including the popular monthly manga anthology SHONEN JUMP magazine, graphic novels, and DVDs, and develops, markets, licenses, and distributes animated entertainment for audiences and consumers of all ages.

Contact VIZ Media at 295 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133; Phone (415) 546-7073; Fax (415) 546-7086; and web site at www.VIZ.com.

— WebWireID107880 —

San Francisco, CA (November 17, 2009) – In 1909, when Star of the Sea School in San Francisco was formed, the City was well on its way to recovery after the disastrous 1906 earthquake. All around the City, residents and institutions like the Cliff House and the Palace Hotel were celebrating their rebirth. Fashion, too, was having a rebirth, with a new silhouette emerging from the fashion houses of Paris: the pigeon-breast shapes popular at the turn of the century were giving way to a narrower, straighter silhouette. Amidst this backdrop, Star of the Sea School was established by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, and their legacy lives on in this thriving inner Richmond school turning out many of this city's finest and most fashionable students.

To celebrate its centennial, Star of the Sea is presenting 'An Evening of Stars', a centennial fashion show modeled by Star of the Sea alumni and families on December 6, 2009. The event takes place from 4:30-5:30 at the school gymnasium on 8th Avenue between Geary and Clement in San Francisco, followed by a boutique with proceeds benefitting the school.

After leaving behind the traditional navy blue and white uniforms of Star of the Sea, alumni have donned clothing as varied as furs, football helmets and vestments, although to our knowledge none have worn all those items at the same time. With tongue planted firmly in cheek, we present some notable Star of the Sea alumni and reflect on their fashion choices.

Perhaps the best-known of all Star alumni is Grace Ethel Cecilia Rosalie Allen, better known as Gracie Allen, who according to her bio loved to shop and had a fondness for furs, beautiful clothes and ľ length sleeves. Although early records are murky, due in part to birth certificates and documentation being lost in the 1906 earthquake, and also in part to Gracie's coyness, she was born in the late 1890s and graduated from Star of the Sea in 1914. She's best known as the zany partner to George Burns, and was a gifted comedienne beloved by many. She passed away in 1964. Today Star of the Sea's computer lab bears her name, from a gift given by her estate.

John Talesfore graduated from the Star of the Sea grammar school in 1974. His fond memories of Star include 'Hot Dog Day' once a month, and endless fights with seagulls for scraps left unguarded. A fashion plate who 'never met a mirror he didn't like', according to his father, Talesfore was widely known for his platform shoes, cow bells and silky polyester shirts on the rare and much-anticipated free dress day. He went on to study architecture for two years at Cal, before realizing he might have a vocation to the priesthood. He was ordained a priest in 1989, and now serves as pastor at St. Mary's Cathedral. 'When I found out that black is always in style, that's when I made the logical choice of profession,' says Father Talesfore. He also claims the snazzy Star of the Sea uniform got him hooked on fashion, but we think he's just humoring us.

'I can honestly and proudly say that anything I have been given spiritually and academically is founded in my Star of the Sea education,' said Father Talesfore.

Another Star alumnus favors shoulder pads and a football helmet. He is Zac Lee, starting quarterback for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Lee, the son of an NFL quarterback, graduated from Star of the Sea in 2001. He was a standout in Star athletics and continued his prowess at St. Ignatius, where he was a 3 year starter in both football and baseball, and the first SI player in 23 years to be named offensive player of the year in the West Catholic Athletic Conference. He went on to star in both football and baseball for one year at City College before making his big Midwest move.

Classic clothes of the 20s, 30s and 40s will be featured in the Star of the Sea Fashion Show, and perhaps none wears them better today than cabaret singer Mary Cleere Haran. Haran, whose performances were lovingly covered in Entertainment Weekly in 1999, is another alumna that Star is proud to call its own. She covers the great American songbook, and has performed in prestigious clubs from coast to coast, including the Algonquin in New York.

Star of the Sea joins with all of its alumni to celebrate 100 years of academic excellence, teaching life values and looking good while doing so. To learn more about the centennial celebration and the fashion show, contact Star of the Sea:

Telephone: 415-221-3399 (Centennial Hotline for information and messages)
Email: alumni@staroftheseasf.com
Website: www.staroftheseasf.com/centennial

# # #

About Star of the Sea
Founded in 1909 by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, Star of the Sea Schools include the preschool and elementary school under the authority of the parish, serving a diverse population of girls and boys. Our schools are nurturing, dynamic, and constantly evolving environments that support academic achievement, develop moral and spiritual character, and encourage students to be globally aware and become lifelong learners and problem solvers. Star's graduates are consistently accepted to and excel in San Francisco's top Catholic, public and private high schools, including Sacred Heart Cathedral, Saint Ignatius, Riordan, Mercy, ICA, Lowell, and University. Star of the Sea is located at 360 9th Avenue in San Francisco's inner Richmond neighborhood.

— WebWireID107859 —

SAN FRANCISCO and SANTA CLARA, Calif. - November 16, 2009 - Frogster America, Inc. and PlaySpan, the global leader in monetization solutions for online games, virtual worlds, and social networks, today announced that Runes of Magic pre-paid branded game cards are now available at 7-Eleven stores nationwide. PlaySpan's Ultimate Game Card, enables players to purchase Diamonds, the virtual currency for Runes of Magic. In addition, the millions of Runes of Magic fans can purchase Diamonds online in the PlaySpan Marketplace at: www.playspan.com.

With more than 7,800 7-Eleven stores in the United States, players of Runes of Magic will have even more options to pay for items to enhance their experience. The Runes of Magic game cards available in 7-Eleven and Target combined with Ultimate Game Card's extensive distribution increases the number of retail locations to over 46,000.

'With the number of locations to purchase pre-paid cards for our in-game currency, Diamonds, growing rapidly, we're achieving our goal of making it easy to participate and take advantage of the paid enhancements Runes of Magic offers,' said Lars Koschin, CEO of Frogster America, Inc. '7-Eleven is core to our player demographic, and it's now easy to pick up your Ultimate Game Card while grabbing your Big Gulp or Slurpee.'

'Frogster has a fast growing game, and we're the best partner for popular free-to-play titles like Runes of Magic that require national distribution and availability for their in-game currencies,' said Eric Hartness, Chief Marketing Officer of PlaySpan. 'The PlaySpan Marketplace and Ultimate Game Card will enable many more gamers to easily pay and experience the premium content Runes of Magic provides.'

Runes of Magic Game Cards come in $10 and $25 increments and can be used in the game's Diamond shop to purchase mounts or in-game enhancements. Frogster continues to look for additional ways to support the community with alternative payment methods, survey credits, and other opportunities that open up the game's paid enhancements to the free user base.

About Runes of Magic
Runes of Magic is an award-winning fantasy based MMORPG setting a new standard for feature rich free-to-play titles. With more than two million registrations, and thousands of new players joining every day, Runes of Magic has already established itself as a popular and compelling "must play" MMORPG since its launch in March of this year. Runes of Magic players create versatile duel class characters and upgrade them with rich, dynamic and truly unique customization features in an ever evolving world.

About PlaySpan
PlaySpan™ is the global leader in monetization solutions for over 1,000 online games, virtual worlds, and social networks. PlaySpan's patent-pending in-game digital goods commerce and micropayment platform enables game publishers and developers to generate new revenues, acquire new users, and extend the loyalty of existing users.
PlaySpan also offers global payment solutions through its subsidiary PayByCash® with 85 payment methods in 180 countries. The ULTIMATE GAME CARD® is used by consumers to pay for 300 multiplayer games and around 700 games on popular social networking sites. It is available in about 45,000 retail locations across North America and growing rapidly worldwide.

For more information about PlaySpan, visit: http://corp.playspan.com

About Frogster America, Inc.
Frogster America, Inc., was founded in 2008 to bring high-quality online games to the North American market. As a wholly owned subsidiary of the Frogster Interactive Pictures AG, a Berlin based listed publisher of online computer games, Frogster America is located in San Francisco, and focused on the operation and marketing of MMO games that appeal to a global audience. With Runes of Magic, released on March 19, 2009, the company is well positioned for success with a rapidly growing community and strong initial title on which to establish its market presence.

For more information, please visit: www.frogster-america.com

# # #

Contact
Sean Kauppinen
Frogster America, Inc.
press@frogster-america.com

— WebWireID107851 —

A considerable proportion of teachers (42 percent) involved in the report felt that the reason some parents have so little contact with their child's school is due to a lack of confidence in talking about their child with teachers. Nineteen percent of the parents involved said that they are worried about taking up teacher's time and bothering them, with twenty-two percent saying that they don't want to add to the teacher's workload. This lack of confidence and break-down in communication could be putting children's education at risk as parental support is vital to a child's learning development.

The report also reveals that some teachers believe parents are a great source of support but they don't always know the best ways to get in contact. However, some of the teaching staff said they would welcome ways to show parents how they could contact the school and teachers.

'Parental engagement is vital to a child's learning and known to help raise attainment. To do this effectively, there needs to be a meaningful dialogue between parent and school, keeping the parent informed and updated,' said Niel McLean, Executive Director of Becta.

Becta is the government agency, which aims to encourage the creative use of technology throughout a child's learning experience. It aims to make use of technology in order to create a more exciting, rewarding and successful experience for children no matter of their age or ability, enabling them to achieve their potential.

The report is part of Becta's 'Next Generation Learning' campaign, which urges parents to talk to their child's school and find out how and if technology is already being used, and how it can help improve communications between parents and schools in future. The use of new technology should enable parents to improve communications by keeping track of their child's work, by viewing their reports, attendance records and grades at any time of the day via Online Reporting.

To read the Schools & Parents: A New Partnership report in full or for more information regarding Becta and the 'Next Generation Learning' campaign log on to www.nextgenerationlearning.org.uk

For more information, please contact:
Sophie Jackson 0207 025 6412 / Sophie.jackson@redconsultancy.com
Catherine Sharrott 0207 025 6589 / Catherine.Sharrott@redconsultancy.com
Kate Cox 02476 797146 / Kate.Cox@becta.org.uk

— WebWireID107693 —

WASHINGTON, DC – Forty-two percent of American adults plan to give or hope to receive a computer or video game this holiday season, according to a new report released today by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA). The poll, conducted by KRC Research, also found that 52 percent of respondents believe that with the current economy, video games are a good option for family entertainment this holiday season.

"Computer and video games are topping holiday lists because they provide a superior entertainment value for the whole family," said Michael D. Gallagher, president and CEO of the ESA, the trade association representing U.S. computer and video game publishers. "With 68 percent of American households playing computer and video games, U.S. consumers value the creative and innovative products the entertainment software industry produces and are seeking them out for themselves and to give as gifts.'

The number of adults who plan to give or hope to receive at least one computer or video game this holiday season increased nine percentage points from 2007, representing the highest number since 2004. Additionally, the research showed yet again that both men and women enjoy computer and video games. Forty-seven percent of respondents identified women as an intended gift recipient, a 31 percent increase from 2007.

Holiday shoppers continue to choose computer and video games because they provide the gift of family entertainment at a great value. The survey showed that 54 percent of those who play computer and video games plan to play with a friend or family member during the holiday season. For about the cost for a family of four to go to a movie, a gift giver can find the perfect game that will amuse children and adults during the holidays and beyond. By using the tools provided by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) shoppers can choose games that are appropriate for their families.

The national telephone poll, conducted for the ESA by KRC Research, surveyed 1,001 U.S. adults, between November 4 and 8, 2009.

The ESA is the U.S. association dedicated to serving the business and public affairs needs of companies publishing interactive games for video game consoles, handheld devices, personal computers, and the Internet. The ESA offers services to interactive entertainment software publishers including a global anti-piracy program, owning the E3 Expo, business and consumer research, federal and state government relations, First Amendment and intellectual property protection efforts. For more information, please visit www.theESA.com.

— WebWireID107841 —

To best detect early signs of life-threatening heart defects in young athletes, screening programs should include both popular diagnostic tests, not just one of them, according to new research from heart experts at Johns Hopkins.

Sudden cardiac death due to heart rhythm disturbances is blamed for more than 3,000 deaths a year in young people, especially athletes who have inherited tendencies to develop overly enlarged and thickened hearts, says Theodore Abraham, M.D., an associate professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and its Heart and Vascular Institute. In some instances, top athletes have died from heart conditions while seemingly in peak physical form, something that can hide warning signs and allow many cases to go undiagnosed.

In a study to be presented Nov. 15 at the American Heart Association's (AHA) annual Scientific Sessions in Orlando, Abraham and colleagues analyzed data from 134 top Maryland high school athletes that they screened at the 2008 track and field state championships. The researchers were looking for life-threatening cardiac abnormalities, such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathies. Doctors took a medical history, took weight and blood pressure measurements and listened for unusual heartbeats or murmurs. They also conducted an echocardiogram — a cardiac ultrasound, or ECHO — to measure heart size and pumping function and to check for faulty heart valves; and an electrocardiogram, or EKG, to assess the heart's electrical rhythms.

None of the student athletes were found to have life-threatening heart defects, but abnormal findings were discovered in 36 athletes. Twenty-two of those abnormalities were found by EKG alone, nine by ECHO alone and five were picked up on both tests. Those with abnormalities -- which included 19 with high blood pressure, 29 with elevated blood pressure in need of future monitoring, and five with low blood pressure readings -- were referred for follow-up to their doctors.

"If you are going to screen, it has to be comprehensive," says Abraham, who spearheads the annual "Heart Hype" screening program run by Johns Hopkins, and designed to serve as a national model for other leading academic medical centers. Some screening programs just include EKGs and not ECHOs. "An EKG does show you a lot," he says, "but it doesn't tell you the whole story. The advantage of a comprehensive screening is that it is holistic, rather than being pinpoint."

For example, if a doctor were screening for prostate cancer, "he wouldn't ignore a large tumor on your head," Abraham says.

Lead study investigator Aurelio Pinheiro, M.D., a postdoctoral research fellow at Hopkins, says he wasn't surprised that he and his colleagues didn't find anyone with a life-threatening heart abnormality since it is estimated that one in 500 Americans has undiagnosed hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and the Hopkins team screened fewer than that. Still, he says, the screening program is not just designed to prevent deaths from sudden cardiac arrest, but also to raise awareness of the risks to young athletes.

Less pressing — but still serious — medical conditions also were found by the researchers, notably high blood pressure, which in teenagers, Pinheiro says, can lead to heart failure or kidney disease 10 or 15 years in the future if left untreated. He adds that two of the track stars examined were obese, which can lead to other health risks in the future if not taken care of.

During this year's screening program, doctors found a serious undiagnosed valve disease in one athlete and found another suffering from a condition they didn't know about that could likely mean a heart transplant in the future. The students had no symptoms.

In some nations, programs to screen teenage athletes and non-athletes for possible heart problems have been routine for years. In 2004, the International Olympic Committee recommended that all athletes be EKG-tested every two years for potential heart abnormalities, regardless of whether they have a history of cardiac trouble. The U.S. Olympic Committee offers voluntary cardiac screening.

Other screening programs have used just EKG and not ECHO, which the study suggests will miss some heart problems.

Some argue that doing expensive diagnostic tests such as the EKG and ECHO are not worth the costs since sudden cardiac death in young people is relatively rare and mass screenings are unlikely to turn up a large number of teens in immediate danger.

Abraham disagrees. "What is the price for a single life?" he asks. "We're counting the costs upfront. We're not counting the savings on the downstream end."

"They're still teenagers. They think and feel like they're at the top of the world," Abraham says. "Athletes and other teens should let someone know how they are feeling, especially if they have had chest pains, shortness of breath with activity or have fainted. This could save their life."

###

The other Johns Hopkins researchers involved in the study are Daniel Bernard; Veronica L. Dimaano; Saman Nazarian, M.D.; Richard George, M.D.; Reid Thompson, M.D.; and Joel Brenner, M.D. Deepti Bhandare, M.D., and Luis Afonso, M.D., both at Wayne State University in Detroit, were also involved.

For additional information, go to: http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/heart_vascular_institute/clinical_services/centers_excellence/hcm.html

— WebWireID107788 —

'What is very striking,' says Professor Croll, 'is that for this generation there is absolutely no gender stereotyping in hopes for the future. Furthermore, what children say at the age of 11 about school participation after the age of 16 is highly predictive of their actual behaviour.'

The research concludes that to increase participation in schooling post-16, schools need to focus on giving advice and information to children as soon as they enter secondary education. Greater attention also needs to be paid to social relationships, in order to make school a more enjoyable experience for some children. But the study acknowledges that schools face a difficult balance between encouraging high expectations and providing realistic opportunities and goals.

Girls are as likely as boys to see themselves as supporting families and boys are as likely as girls to see marriage and children as a significant part of their lives. However, by far the most important, for both boys and girls, is getting a good job. School is seen as instrumental in achieving this.

'A major background of the research is concern for relatively low levels of participation in education post-16,' says Professor Croll, 'as well as the under-representation of children from disadvantaged backgrounds at university.'

However, the study found no support for the view that children from disadvantaged backgrounds have attitudes to education or value systems that are incompatible with those of school. Indeed, virtually all children think school is important.

Furthermore, although intentions for post-16 participation are lower than might be hoped, only a small proportion of the children said that they definitely would not go to university. This suggests that the possibility of higher education is becoming a norm for this generation of young people.

The study found that a significant number of children were confused about the educational routes available to them and did not understand the link between specific educational and employment opportunities. For example some planned to go to university but also said they intended to leave school at 16.

More significantly, the children in the study were occupationally ambitious with 70 percent choosing professional and managerial occupations. Children whose own parents were in such occupations were more likely to be ambitious but two-thirds of children whose parents were in manual occupations wanted professional and managerial jobs for themselves.

'Many more children wanted these kinds of jobs regardless if these jobs will be available in the future,' says Professor Croll, 'and the question arises of not just who wants them but also who will get them.'

Professors Croll and Attwood have fed their findings into the Government initiative on raising the participation age (RPA) and have briefed MPs on their work.

The study, which is designed to advance our understanding of how young children see the educational and occupational possibilities available to them and how they begin to make choices, shows that boys and girls from all backgrounds see education as important for the future.

The ESRC will return to this issue of young people's aspirations as a part of the longitudinal study, Understanding Society. For the first time thousands of young people will be surveyed about their attitudes offering a new insight into this group.

Notes for editors

1. This release is based on the findings from 'Children's perception of the value of education', funded by the Economic and Social Research Council and carried out by Professor Paul Croll from the Institute of Education at the University of Reading and Gaynor Attwood of the University of the West of England.
2. Methodology: The research involved two principal methods of data collection, a large scale representative survey and detailed personal interviews with a sub-sample of the children in the survey. The children were in their third term of year 7, aged 11 or 12, when they completed the questionnaire and in their first term of year 8, aged 12 or, in a few cases 13, when they were interviewed. A stratified multi-stage sample was taken involving local authorities, schools within LAs and tutor groups within schools. Six local authorities were sampled in three areas of the country, the South East, the South West and South Yorkshire/North Midlands.
3. The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) is the UK's largest funding agency for research and postgraduate training relating to social and economic issues. It supports independent, high quality research, which impacts on business, the public sector and the third sector. The ESRC's planned total expenditure in 2008/09 is £203 million. At any one time the ESRC supports over 4,000 researchers and postgraduate students in academic institutions and research policy institutes.
4. A book based on the study is being published by Continuum in December 2009; Croll, P., Attwood, G. and Fuller, C. (2009) Children's Lives, Children's Futures. London: Continuum.
5. The ESRC confirms the quality of its funded research by evaluating research projects through a process of peers review. This research has been graded as 'outstanding'.

— WebWireID107782 —

The Route 66 mini-golf has been removed to make room for a new space themed black-lit Lazer Tag attraction. The game room is also being arranged to accommodate a new XD Theater ride. XD Theater, a 3D Motion Ride Experience with four different movie options will be the first of its kind in Southwest Missouri. The third upgrade to the seven-year-old fun center is an expansion of their 'Tiny-Town' area focused on kids ages 2 to 6.

Mark Eastin, Owner of Springfield's Incredible Pizza Company says, 'I can't contain my excitement about these new additions to the store. Springfield has been very good to us and we want to give back to our customers by adding these fun new attractions.' Eastin expects to have all the improvements up and running by December 14th, just in time for Christmas vacations. 'People are staying closer to home in this economy and we provide an excellent value for the family dollar, we think these improvements will give families another reason to stay in town while escaping to the incredible food and fun we have to offer,' said Eastin.

America's Incredible Pizza Company may be found online at www.incrediblepizza.com.

— WebWireID107732 —