A team of Australian and American astronomers have been studying nearby galaxy M83 and have found a new superpowered small black hole, named MQ1, the first object of its kind to be studied in this much detail. Astronomers have found a few compact objects that are as powerful as MQ1, but have not been able to work out the size of the black hole contained within them until now. The team observed the MQ1 system with multiple telescopes and discovered that it is a standard-sized small black hole, rather than a slightly bigger version that was theorised to account for all ...

In the race for better treatments and possible cures, rare diseases are often left behind. In a collaboration of researchers at The Rockefeller University, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and the New York Genome Center (NYGC), an unusual mutation has been found that is strongly linked to one such disease: a rare liver cancer that affects teens and young adults. The results, published this week in Science, suggest that the mutation plays a key role in the development of the disease, called fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma, and may also underlie more common cancers ...

DURHAM, N.C -- When students repeat a grade, it can spell trouble for their classmates, according to a new Duke University-led study of nearly 80,000 middle-schoolers. In schools with high numbers of grade repeaters , suspensions were more likely to occur across the school community. Discipline problems were also more common among other students, including substance abuse, fighting and classroom disruption. Public debate typically focuses on how retention affects an individual student's academic performance, said lead author Clara Muschkin. So she and her colleagues ...

This news release is available in German. Proteins like the so-called heat shock protein Hsp90 play an important role in almost all processes within human cells. They help other proteins fold into their three-dimensional structure or return damaged proteins back into their proper shape. Recently, there has been increasing evidence indicating that the heat shock protein HSP90 may also be involved in the folding processes of the tau protein. Deposits of tau proteins in brain cells are typical for Alzheimer's disease and are held responsible for decaying nerve ...

Living in a socioeconomically deprived region is a risk factor for being affected by diabetes mellitus and obesity. This holds true regardless of the individual social status of the inhabitants. This is the conclusion reached by scientists from the Institute of Health Economics and Health Care Management (IGM) at the Helmholtz Zentrum München (HMGU) and the Department of Epidemiology and Health Monitoring at the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) in Berlin. "Regional factors, such as the population's average income, unemployment or quality of the living environment can affect ...

This news release is available in German. Plants, like animals, employ hormones as messengers, which coordinate growth and regulate how they react to the environment. One of these plant hormones, auxin, regulates nearly all aspects of plant behavior and development, for example phototropism, root growth and fruit growth. Depending on the context, auxin elicits a range of responses such as cell polarization or division. In this week's edition of Science (DOI:10.1126/science.1245125), a team of researchers including Jiri Friml from IST Austria and led by Zhenbiao ...

For those coping with Crohn's disease, a new research report published in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology offers hope for the development of new and more effective drugs. In the report, scientists show for the first time, precisely what type of immune cells are involved in driving the inflammation process in the disease. With this knowledge, new compounds can be identified which reduce the activity of these cells or lessen their inflammatory effects. "By increasing the knowledge on the different macrophage subsets in the intestine and their blood counterparts, we hope ...

An international team of scientists led by physicists from the University of York has paved the way for a new class of magnetic materials and devices with improved performance and power efficiency. Magnetic materials are currently used to store almost all digital information. However, with information processing and storage now making up a significant fraction of the world's energy consumption, continuing improvements in energy efficiency will require new technologies and materials. A promising development is all-optical thermally induced magnetic switching (TIMS), which ...

When an organism is exposed to life-threatening conditions, it sounds the alarm and a cellular emergency program, the heat shock response, is initiated. However, the name "heat shock response" is misleading. In the beginning of the 1960s, this form of stress response was first observed. Scientists exposed fruit flies to high temperatures and discovered a complex emergency program designated to save single cells and thus the organism itself. Today researchers know that this program is also triggered by other dangers such as radiation or toxic substances. The terminology, ...

Real-time social media like Twitter could be used to track HIV incidence and drug-related behaviors with the aim of detecting and potentially preventing outbreaks, a new UCLA-led study shows. The study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Preventive Medicine, suggests it may be possible to predict sexual risk and drug use behaviors by monitoring tweets, mapping where those messages come from and linking them with data on the geographical distribution of HIV cases. The use of various drugs had been associated in previous studies with HIV sexual risk behaviors and ...

Competition may play an important role during the evolution of new species, but empirical evidence for this is scarce, despite being implicit in Charles Darwin's work and support from theoretical studies. Dr Martin Genner from Bristol's School of Biological Sciences and colleagues used population genetics and experimental evidence to demonstrate a role for competition that leads to the differentiation of new species within the highly diverse cichlid fishes of Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. They found that the cichlid fish Telmatochromis temporalis shows two genetically ...

Rise in New York foreclosures means many could benefit from bankruptcy Article provided by Michael A. Fakhoury, Esq., P.C. Visit us at http://www.fakhourylaw.com According to a report from the chief administrator of courts in New York, the number of foreclosurefilings in 2013 exceeded the totals for 2012 and 2011 combined. In some areas, the problem has been particularly pronounced. A report from the Times Herald-Record indicated that foreclosure filings approximately doubled in Orange and Ulster counties from 2012 to 2013. RealtyTrac, a company that tracks foreclosures, ...

Divorce and tax audits an unfortunately common combination Article provided by Kenney & Kenney Visit us at http://www.kenney-law.com Two dreaded legal actions often occur in the early months of the year; winter is a popular time to divorce and most people are required to file a tax return before April. Unfortunately, certain actions that take place during divorce proceedings may also make it more likely to receive a tax audit. In addition, many divorcing couples have questions about how their divorce will affect their taxes. When do they file as single? Who ...

Study finds medical errors third-leading cause of death in US Article provided by Nix Law Group, PLLC Visit us at http://www.oklahomainjurylaw.com/ If you were asked to name the top causes of death in the United States, you might answer heart disease, cancer or perhaps stroke. Although you would have been correct in naming some of the top causes of death, if you were asked to name other leading causes, you probably never would have identified medical errors. However, a recent study has found that such errors are among the leading reasons why people die each year. Medical ...

MADD pushes for South Carolina to pass ignition interlock requirement Article provided by McCutchen, Mumford, Vaught, O'Dea & Geddie, P.A. Visit us at http://www.lawyersatthebeach.com Mothers Against Drunk Driving, or MADD, is pushing for legislators in South Carolina to pass a law that would require first time driving under the influence (DUI) offenders to install an ignition interlock device. The law, called Emma's Law, was named after a six year-old girl who was killed in a drunk driving accident. More on Emma's Law and ignition interlock devices in South ...

Older couples setting records for divorce in the U.S. Article provided by Clement Law Center Visit us at http://www.clementlawcenter.com While the divorce rate in the U.S. overall is declining, census data shows that divorce is increasing in one key demographic: those over 50 years old. The increase in divorce rates among those over 50 years old has become known as "gray divorce." Older people considering divorce should be aware of the unique issues that arise in gray divorces. Divorce over 50 more common According to an analysis of U.S. Census data ...

Murder suspect's request for a lawyer should have ended interrogation Article provided by The Law Office of James M. Caramanica Visit us at http://www.massfelonylawyer.com/ A suspect being questioned by police has the right to remain silent, as well as the right to the presence of an attorney during the questioning. Generally, once a suspect requests an attorney, an interrogation should end. That is not what happened in the murder case of Commonwealth v. Santos, as explained by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. A suspect requests a lawyer during an ...

Marriage status, dependents and audits, oh my! Divorce and taxes Article provided by Law Office of L. Todd Nalagan Visit us at http://www.toddnalagan.com Tax season is never fun, but a recent divorce can compound an already difficult task. What's even more frightening is the fact that a divorce can impact taxes up to three years after it is finalized. In some cases, this deadline for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to question taxes can even be extended to six years. Some examples of how a divorcecan impact taxes include: -Marital status. One of the very ...

Common construction disputes in Tennessee can involve delays and defects Article provided by Law Office of Timothy H. Nichols, PLLC Visit us at http://www.tnicholslaw.com/ Last month, a Tennessee construction crew arrived at its jobsite to find that the home had been burglarized. WBBJ Eyewitness News in Jackson, Tennessee, reported that expensive tools and a key item for the home were stolen, bringing the remodeling project to a grinding halt. The property owner, contractor, subcontractors and the family for whom the home was being prepared were all adversely affected ...

Campaigns underway to improve motorcycle safety Article provided by Scott J. Corwin, A Professional Law Corporation Visit us at http://www.motorcycleaccidentlosangelesattorney.com/ The Los Angeles area has always been a very popular place for motorcyclists. With traffic a major problem in the region, motorcycles provide their riders a more affordable commuting option. As more cars and motorcycles share the roads, problems are bound to arise. If the motorcyclist is not prepared, he or she may be unable to avoid being involved in a crash. Law enforcement officers ...

Workers' compensation insurers look to social media to combat fraud Article provided by Silverman, Silverman & Seligman, P.C. Visit us at http://www.thesilvermanfirm.com Social media updates keep our friends and acquaintances in touch with our day-to-day lives. But more than just friends have access to personal information posted online. Law enforcement, divorce lawyers, the IRS and insurance companies may all use social media such as Facebook to collect information on suspects, ex-spouses, taxpayers and insurance claimants. Workers comp claims receive scrutiny Workers ...

Jones Act versus workers' compensation: Know the differences Article provided by The Krist Law Firm, P.C. Visit us at http://www.kristmaritimelaw.com If you have been injured in a work accident, you likely need compensation to cover things like medical bills and lost wages. But, if you are a qualifying maritime employee, the legal framework for obtaining compensation for a work injury is significantly different than that for workers injured in a land-based occupation. No fault in workers' comp case, but more damages available in Jones Act claims Under workers' ...

Ride-sharing services can lead to "murky" insurance issues in accidents Article provided by O'Connor, O'Connor, Bresee & First, P.C. Visit us at http://www.1stlaw.com/ It seems like a great deal: download an app, make a request and get a ride! Although ride-sharing is gaining popularity across the country, critics continue to voice concerns about the safety of passengers. Aside from the fact that drivers generally do not receive additional training prior to partaking in the service, issues about insurance coverage in the event of a car accident are ...

Socius is one of three U.S. Microsoft Dynamics Master VARs and recently announced Micro Force, a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner based in New York and Long Island, has been accepted into their national Sales Affiliate network. The Microsoft Dynamics Master VAR program began in 2011, and in that time Socius has accepted 20 Affiliate organizations into the program. As a Socius Affiliate, Micro Force will continue to provide Microsoft products and service to their customers, while gaining extended support from Socius in areas such as business development, marketing and ...

Award-winning water garden designer Larry Carnes is introducing a new concept for backyard swimming pools that incorporates plants in the design and functionality of the pool for a natural, lagoon-like swimming experience. The system is revolutionary in that it's the plants that actually clean and filter the pool water and remove impurities, completely eliminating the use of chlorine and other harsh chemicals. The pools can be built in nearly any shape, size or style, from naturalistic to geometric and modern. The technology that enables this eco-friendly and body-friendly ...