In these cases the PDA causesabnormal blood circulation often straining the heart and impairing blood flowthroughout

In these cases, the PDA causesabnormal blood circulation, often straining the heart and impairing blood flowthroughout the body. Studies are exploring how cerebral/somatic oximetry viathe INVOS System may potentially be used to help detect oxygen deficitsindicative of PDAs and to help determine whether surgical or drug interventionis required. Another study examined four drugs, commonly used in the NICU to manage a rangeof severe conditions, and their effect on cerebral and somatic (e.g., abdomen,kidney area, muscle) regional oxygen saturation (rSO2). The INVOS Systemshowed that each drug produced distinct medication-specific changes to rSO2,and that this pattern was also tied to dosage."While drug therapy is very successful at managing numerous conditions in theNICU, clinicians may not have fully appreciated its impact on vital andnon-vital organ area oxygenation because this type of data was simply notavailable before," adds Wider.

"Arming clinicians with this previouslyunavailable data gives them important additional information to consider whenassessing patients and care protocols."The INVOS (In Vivo Optical Spectroscopy) Cerebral/Somatic Oximeternoninvasively monitors site-specific blood oxygen levels in patients at riskfor restricted or no blood flow. It helps hospital critical care teams detectand correct blood oxygen deficiencies that can cause brain and vital organarea damage Sensors simply adhere to the skin like a Band Aid(R). In infantsand neonates the most commonly monitored areas are the brain, abdomen andkidney area. About Somanetics Somanetics Corporation (Nasdaq: SMTS) develops, manufactures and markets theINVOS(R) Cerebral/Somatic Oximeter which noninvasively provides accurate,real-time blood oxygen measurements in patients greater than 2.5 kilograms,and trend monitoring of this parameter for individuals of any weight.TheINVOS System is the only commercially-available cerebral/somatic oximeterproven to improve outcomes in patients above 2.5 kilograms, and is the onlycerebral/somatic oximeter system cleared for use on neonates less than 2.5 kg. Covidien markets INVOS System products in Europe, Canada, the Middle East andSouth Africa and Edwards Lifesciences represents INVOS System products inJapan.For more information visit CorporationInvestors, Mary Ann Victor, Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer,+1-248-689-3050 x 5803; or Media, Jane Hauser or Jenny Ng, +1-781-684-0770. Netincome for the first three months of 2009 was $41.0 million ($0.58 per dilutedshare), compared with net income of $25.5 million ($0.39 per diluted share) inthe first quarter of 2008.

Amounts for all periods have been adjusted fordiscontinued operations.Alpha reported earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, depletion andamortization (EBITDA) from continuing operations of $109.7 million in the mostrecent quarter, a 24 percent increase from the prior year. The definition ofEBITDA from continuing operations and a reconciliation to income fromcontinuing operations, the most closely related GAAP measure, is provided in atable included with the accompanying financial schedules.For the quarter just ended, Alpha achieved a record coal margin per ton of$23.48, 81 percent higher than the comparable period in 2008 and a 66 percentimprovement, sequentially, from the fourth quarter of 2008. Improved pricingof this year's thermal coal contracts was the main reason behind the recordunit margin, while per-ton cash costs in the first quarter also showed adistinct downward trend from the end of 2008."In dealing with a sluggish demand environment, our primary focus has been onmanaging margins," said Michael Quillen, chairman and CEO."We'vedemonstrated an ability to react nimbly and adjust asset utilization to lowerdemand levels. Since the end of 2008 we've made a series of calculatedproduction adjustments to bring raw coal output and inventories in line withour sales commitments.

Coal sales revenues roseby$2.0 million due to substantially higher year-over-year pricerealizations for both metallurgical and thermal coal, which offset a20percent drop in sales volumes. Other revenues rose $4.8 million,mostlybecause of higher revenues from the company's export terminal androad construction operations. Freight and handling revenues for thequarter declined $13.1 million from last year on the heels of lowerexport shipments. Pre-tax income from continuingoperationsof $60.2 million for the quarter just ended represented a $23.5millionimprovement (64 percent) from last year.--Interest expense (net) in the most recent quarter was $9.2 million,substantially the same as the corresponding period last year. Includedin the most recent quarter is $2.8 million in non-cash interestexpenseassociated with the adoption of a new accounting standard related toconvertible debt instruments. Alpha's income tax expense oncontinuing operations totaled $13.6 million in the most recent quarterversus $8.8 million in the first quarter of 2008, with an effectivetaxrate in the quarter just ended of 22.6 percent compared with 23.9percent the prior year.--Loss from discontinued operations for the first quarter of 2009 of$5.7million was related entirely to closure of the Whitetail Kittanningmineannounced by Alpha in December.