A precise measurement of the magnetic field in the corona of the black hole binary V404 Cygni.

Observations of binary stars containing an accreting black hole or neutron star often show x-ray emission extending to high energies (>10 kilo--electron volts), which is ascribed to an accretion disk corona of energetic particles akin to those seen in the solar corona. Despite their ubiquity, the physical conditions in accretion disk coronae remain poorly constrained. Using simultaneous infrared, optical, x-ray, and radio observations of the Galactic black hole system V404 Cygni, showing a rapid synchrotron cooling event in its 2015 outburst, we present a precise 461 ± 12 gauss magnetic field measurement in the corona. This measurement is substantially lower than previous estimates for such systems, providing constraints on physical models of accretion physics in black hole and neutron star binary systems.

Quetiapine monotherapy in the treatment of patients with bipolar I or II depression and a rapid-cycling disease course: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the efficacy and tolerability of quetiapine monotherapy in patients with bipolar I or II disorder with a rapid-cycling disease course. METHODS: Adult patients with a DSM-IV diagnosis of bipolar disorder, most recent episode depressed, with a rapid-cycling disease course from a previously completed multicenter trial randomized to 8 weeks of treatment with quetiapine 600 mg/day (n = 31), quetiapine 300 mg/day (n = 42), or placebo (n = 35) were included in this sub-analysis. The primary efficacy variable was change from baseline to week 8 in Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) total score. RESULTS: Quetiapine (600 and 300 mg/day) provided significantly greater mean reductions from baseline to week 8 in the MADRS total score than placebo (-21.1, -20.7 versus -11.6, both p < 0.001) in this patient population. Effect sizes in patients with a rapid-cycling disease course were 1.2 (600 mg/day) and 1.1 (300 mg/day) and were similar for bipolar I (0.98 and 1.22) and bipolar II (1.45 and 0.97) sub-groups. Significant improvements were also noted on the Clinical Global Impression, Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire scales. Quetiapine was generally well tolerated with moderate increases in weight and extrapyramidal side effects compared to placebo. The incidence of treatment-emergent mania was similar to placebo. CONCLUSIONS: Quetiapine monotherapy (600 or 300 mg/day) is clinically effective and well tolerated in the short-term treatment of depressive episodes in patients with bipolar I or II disorder who have a rapid-cycling disease course.

The perception and recognition of natural object shape from deforming and static shadows.

In this study of the informativeness of shadows for the perception of object shape, observers viewed shadows cast by a set of natural solid objects and were required to discriminate between them. In some conditions the objects underwent rotation in depth while in other conditions they remained stationary, thus producing both deforming and static shadows. The orientation of the light source casting the shadows was also varied, leading to further alterations in the shape of the shadows. When deformations in the shadow boundary were present, the observers were able to reliably recognize and discriminate between the objects, invariant over the shadow distortions produced by movements of the light source. The recognition performance for the static shadows depended critically upon the content of the specific views that were shown. These results support the idea that there are invariant features of shadow boundaries that permit the recognition of shape (cf Koenderink, 1984 Perception 13 321-330).

Differential interaction of steroid hormone receptors with LXXLL motifs in SRC-1a depends on residues flanking the motif.

Steroid hormones induce the transcriptional activity of their cognate receptors by recruiting a variety of cofactors. One of these, steroid receptor co-activator-1 (SRC-1) interacts with the ligand binding domains of a number of different receptors by means of LXXLL motifs. We have investigated the relative interaction of four such motifs in SRC-1a using a yeast two-hybrid assay. We demonstrate that ERalpha, ERbeta and ERbeta2 preferentially interact with motif 2 while GR, AR, PPARalpha and PPARgamma preferentially interact with motif 4. We show that the interactions depend not only on the LXXLL motif itself but also on residues flanking the motif.

Comparison of oral sodium phosphate to polyethylene glycol-based solution for bowel preparation for colonoscopy in children.

Thirty-four patients, aged 3 to 17 years, were randomized to receive oral sodium phosphate solution or a polyethylene glycol-based solution in preparation for elective colonoscopy. Nineteen patients received two doses of oral sodium phosphate solution (45 mL/1.7 m2/ dose) and 15 received polyethylene glycol-based solution (4 L/1.7 m2). Compliance with oral sodium phosphate solution was judged as easy or tolerable in 15 of 19 patients, but only in 5 of 15 who were given polyethylene glycol-based solution. The quality of colon cleansing was rated by an endoscopist who was blinded to the colon preparation method used. The bowel preparation was excellent or good (only liquid remaining in the colonic lumen) in 18 of 19 patients who received oral sodium phosphate solution and in 6 of 15 who received polyethylene glycol-based solution. The incidence of vomiting was similar in both groups, but abdominal pain occurred more frequently in the polyethylene glycol-based solution group. Hyperphosphatemia developed in patients who received oral sodium phosphate solution (serum phosphorus = 2.3 +/- 0.7 mmol/L (7.2 +/- 2.2 mg/dL; mean +/- SD), but only in 1 of 15 patients in the polyethylene glycol-based solution group. Patients did not exhibit symptoms of hyperphosphatemia and serum calcium concentrations were similar in both groups. In summary, oral sodium phosphate solution is better tolerated than polyethylene glycol-based solution for bowel preparation in children. However, hyperphosphatemia occurred frequently in patients who received oral sodium phosphate solution. Further studies are needed to determine the optimal dose for safety and efficacy for the use of these solutions in children.