Productivity Growth and Levels in France, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States in the Twentieth Century.

This study compares labor and total factor productivity (TFP) in France, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States in the very long (since 1890) and medium (since 1980) runs. During the past century, the United States has overtaken the United Kingdom and become the leading world economy. During the past 25 years, the four countries have also experienced contrasting advances in productivity, in particular as a result of unequal investment in information and communication technology (ICT). The past 120 years have been characterized by: (i) rapid economic growth and large productivity gains in all four countries; (ii) a long decline in productivity in the United Kingdom relative to the United States, and to a lesser extent also relative to France and Japan, a relative decline that was interrupted by the second world war (WW2); (iii) the remarkable catching-up to the United States by France and Japan after WW2, interrupted in the case of Japan during the 1990s. Capital deepening (at least to the extent this can be measured) accounts for a large share of the variations in performance; increasingly during the past 25 years, this has meant ICT capital deepening. However, the capital contribution to growth varies considerably over time and across the four countries, and it is always less important, except in Japan, than the contribution of the various other factors underlying TFP growth, such as, among others, labor skills, technical and organizational changes and knowledge spillovers. Most recently (in 2006), before the current financial world crisis, hourly labor productivity levels were slightly higher in France than in the United States, and noticeably lower in the United Kingdom (by roughly 10%) and even lower in Japan (30%), while TFP levels are very close in France, the United Kingdom and the United States, but much lower (40%) in Japan.Productivity, growth accounting, macro-economic history.

Locomotor differences in Mongolian gerbils with the effects of midazolam administration in the form of eye drops

Background: Midazolam is a sedative-hypnotic agent with amnestic and anticonvulsant properties that can be administrated to mammals through various routes, such as intravenous, intramuscular, oral, intrathecal, rectal, and buccal. Midazolam administration in the form of eye drops through the conjunctiva is not reported in the literature. Aim:This study aims to demonstrate the possible central nervous system effects of midazolam administration as eyes drops in Mongolian gerbils. Materials and Methods: Fourteen gerbils were randomly assigned to one of two equal sized groups. The active arm received 2 ml of 10 mg midazolam as eye drops in both eyes. Control group received a total of 2 ml of physiological saline(0.9% NaCl). We subjected the gerbils to an adapted “Open Field” to determine the possible effects on central nervous system of midazolam. Gerbils were allowed to move freely in the open field. Before and after the drug administration, locomotor activities of each gerbil have been recorded. Frequency of loss of righting reflex was quantified. Results: Conjunctival Midazolam administration resulted with the transient loss of righting reflex (p=0.017) and suppressed exploration motion (p=0.018) in the open field test compared to control subjects. Conclusions: In the present study, administration of conjunctival midazolam as an eye drop may affect gerbil’s locomotor activities and open field behaviors. We argue that, using a sedative and anticonvulsive drug such as midazolam via conjunctival route may be useful in some clinical situations. Therefore, it could be beneficial to develop a new conjunctival formulation of midazolam. Also, there is a need for trials in humans with pharmacokinetic studies.Keywords: Righting reflex; Conjunctival Midazolam; Gerbillinae; Midazolam; Eye drop; New administration routeAfrican Health sciences Vol 14 No. 1 March 201

Molecular characterization of rotaviruses in Mid-Western Turkey, 2006-2007 (conferenceObject)

12th Annnual Meeting of the European-Society-for=Clinical-Virology -- SEP 27-30, 2009 -- Istanbul, TURKEYAltindis, Mustafa/0000-0003-0411-9669WOS: 000270629000160…European Soc Clin Viro

Antiemetic effects of dexamethasone and ondansetron combination during cesarean sections under spinal anaesthesia

Background: Nausea and vomiting are frequently seen in patients undergoing cesarean section (CS) under regional anesthesia. We aimed to compare the antiemetic efficacy of ondansetron and dexamethasone combination with that of the use of each agent alone to decrease the incidence of post-delivery intraoperative nausea and vomiting (IONV) during CS under spinal anesthesia. Objective: To compare the antiemetic efficacy of ondansetron and dexamethasone combination with that of the single use of each agent to decrease the incidence of postdelivery IONV during CS under spinal anesthesia. Methods: A randomized, prospective, double blind study was performed on 90 patients undergoing planned CS under spinal anesthesia. Patients received 4mg ondansetron in Group O, 8mg dexamethasone in GroupD, 4mg ondansetron+8mg dexamethasone in Group OD intravenously within 1-2 minutes after the umbilical cord was clamped. Frequency of postdelivery IONV episodes was recorded. Results: A total of 86 eligible patients were included in the study. There were 29 patients in Group O, 29 patients in Group D and 28 patients in Group OD. There were no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of baseline characteristics and intraoperative managements. Frequency of intraoperative nausea, retching and vomiting experiences were similar between the groups(p>0.05). Conclusion: Single dose 4mg ondansetron, 8mg dexamethasone, or combined use of 8mg dexamethasone+4mg ondansetron, given intravenously is all effective agents for the control of postdelivery IONV. Combined use of dexamethasone and ondansetron for the same indication does not seem to increase the antiemetic efficacy