RESUMO
Coherent population transfer in an atom using a sequence of adiabatic rapid passages through single-photon resonances is well-known, but it requires that the frequency sweep match the changing frequencies of the atomic transitions. The same population transfer can be effected via a single multiphoton adiabatic rapid passage, which requires only a small frequency sweep, if it is possible to select the desired multiphoton transition from the many possible transitions. Here we report the observation of population transfer between Rydberg states by high order multiphoton adiabatic rapid passage.
RESUMO
Although an atom is a manifestly quantum mechanical system, the electron in an atom can be made to move in a classical orbit almost indefinitely if it is exposed to a weak microwave field oscillating at its orbital frequency. The field effectively tethers the electron, phase-locking its motion to the oscillating microwave field. By exploiting this phase-locking, we have sped up or slowed down the orbital motion of the electron in excited lithium atoms by increasing or decreasing the microwave frequency between 13 and 19 gigahertz; the binding energy and orbital size change concurrently.
RESUMO
A total of 115 elderly patients (60-85 years of age) with DSM III diagnosis of major depressive episode were randomly assigned to 6 weeks of treatment with either mirtazapine, 15-45 mg/day, or amitriptyline, 30-90 mg/day. Efficacy was assessed biweekly, using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) and Montgomery and Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) as primary outcome variables. The treatment with both drugs resulted in a similar reduction of total HRDS and MADRS scores, with no statistically significant differences between treatment groups at any assessment point or at endpoint. Statistically significant differences favouring amitriptyline were present according to CGI-Global Improvement Scale at endpoint, HRDS cognitive disturbance factor at weeks 2, 4 and 6 and endpoint and retardation factor at week 6. Adverse events were reported by a similar number of patients in both treatment groups. Additional research is needed to assess further the efficacy and tolerability of mirtazapine among elderly depressed patients.
Assuntos
Amitriptilina/uso terapêutico , Antidepressivos Tricíclicos/uso terapêutico , Transtorno Depressivo/tratamento farmacológico , Mianserina/análogos & derivados , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Amitriptilina/efeitos adversos , Antidepressivos Tricíclicos/efeitos adversos , Transtorno Depressivo/diagnóstico , Transtorno Depressivo/psicologia , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Método Duplo-Cego , Esquema de Medicação , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Mianserina/efeitos adversos , Mianserina/uso terapêutico , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Mirtazapina , Inventário de Personalidade , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
The effect of a factory shut-down on sick leave and disability pensions was investigated in a four-year controlled follow-up study in a general practice setting. The study population consisted of 85 people, 72 women and 13 men, who lost their jobs when a sardine factory near Bergen in Norway was shut down in 1975. The employees of a nearby sister factory' within the same company were chosen as a control population, consisting of 87 people, 66 women and 21 men. The average amount of sick leave for the study group within the first year of follow-up showed a twofold increase compared to the controls. The rate of disability pensions, estimated by the life table method with appropriate adjustments, was more than three times higher in the study group than in the control group from the second through the fourth year of follow-up. The results of this investigation provide further evidence in support of a causal relationship between job loss and illness.