Trade Partner Diversification and Growth: How Trade Links Matter

We analyze the e ects of a country\u27s export connections on its income growth using Trade Partner Diversi cation (TPD) measures that capture the country\u27s relative importance in the international trade network. On top of the standard trade openness measures, TPD measures are shown to enter growth regressions positively and significantly, where one standard deviation increase in TPD is associated with a 1 to 1.5 percentage point increase in the annual growth rate. Threshold analyses show that TPD measures are positively and significantly correlated with growth in countries that have low financial depth, high inflation, low levels of human capital, or high trade openness

Incentives and the Effects of Publication Lags on Life Cycle Research Productivity in Economics

We investigate how increases in publication delays have affected the life-cycle of publications of recent Ph.D. graduates in economics. We construct a panel dataset of 14,271 individuals who were awarded Ph.D.s between 1986 and 2000 in US and Canadian economics departments. For this population of scholars, we amass complete records of publications in peer reviewed journals listed in the JEL (a total of 368,672 observations). We find evidence of significantly diminished productivity in recent relative to earlier cohorts when productivity of an individual is measured by the number of AER equivalent publications. Diminished productivity is less evident when number of AER equivalent pages is used instead. Our findings are consistent with earlier empirical findings of increasing editorial delays, decreasing acceptance rates at journals, and a trend toward longer manuscripts. This decline in productivity is evident in both graduates of top thirty and non-top thirty ranked economics departments and may have important implications for what should constitute a tenurable record. We also find that the research rankings of the faculty do not line up with the research quality of their students in many cases.

A Review and Comparison of the Toulmin Model, Pragma-Dialectics, Political Discourse Analysis, and Argumentum Model of Topics

UIDB/00183/2020 UIDP/00183/2020 TUBITAK/0010/2014The inferential relation drawn between a reason and a claim constitutes the basis of all argument approaches and models. This article conducts a concept-based comparative literature review that aims to compile and compare four contemporary argument models that are used in the analysis of everyday discourse: the Toulmin Model, Pragma-Dialectics, Political Discourse Analysis, and Argumentum Model of Topics. Argumentation theory and models are inspired, on the one hand, by discursive approaches in the emphasis put on the content and context, and on the other, from analytical philosophy and logic in the application of rational norms and standards. Before examining the four models, developed in the framework of argumentation theory, the article positions the argument approach between the social constructionist and empirical approach of discourse analysis and the formal and normative approach of logic. In examining the four argument models and their analytical reconstruction operations, it seeks to clarify their approach to inferential relations in everyday communication and illustrate their analytical differences. Throughout the four sections, schematic illustrations of how each model reconstructs a simple everyday argument are thus provided. In the conclusion, the models are compared discussing the type of studies each model is most suitable for and the cases for which each can be used most fruitfully.publishersversionpublishe

The Effects of Different Strength Training on Static and Dynamic Balance Ability of Volleyball Players

The aim of this study is to examine the effect of different strength training on the static and dynamic balance ability of volleyball players. A total of 20 male volleyball players, aged between 18 and 25, are participated in the study who has been playing in national volleyball competition in Gaziantep. The subjects were divided into two groups according to the randomized method as experimental group (n=10, age:21.60±2.06) and control group (n=10, age:20.50±1.77). The experimental group was given a different strength training program for 3 days a week for 8 weeks. Both groups continued their regular volleyball practice. Leg strength, static and dynamic balance measurements were made before starting the different strength training in both groups and after the training was finished. Takei Leg Dynamometer used for leg strength measurement and Biodex Balance SD Isokinetic Balance Test for balance measurement. Paired Sample t test was used for intra-group comparisons and Independent Sample t test was used for statistical analysis of the data. When the pre-test and post-test measurements of the experimental group were compared, there were significant differences in leg strength, static (Double leg-Overall Postural Stability Index (OPSI), Right Leg-OPSI, Left Leg-OPSI) and dynamic (Right Leg- Overall Stability Index (OSI), Left Leg-OSI) balance scores (p0.05). As a result, it is considered that the different strength training applied to the volleyball players has a positive effect on the static and dynamic balance ability. It can be said that static and dynamic balance abilities of regular strength training may increase

Translation, cultural adaptation, and validation and reliability of assessment of pelvic floor disorders and their risk factors during pregnancy and postpartum questionnaire in Turkish population

Objectives: This study was conducted in order to produce translation, cultural adaptation, and validation of Assessmentof Pelvic Floor Disorders and Their Risk Factors During Pregnancy and Postpartum Questionnaire (APFDQ) to Turkish inpregnant and postpartum population.Material and methods: The study included 80 pregnant women. Internal consistency was tested using Cronbach’s alpha.Questionnaires were applied three different times in order to assess for sensitivity. Patients were asked to complete thequestionnaire first in the third trimester, secondly in postpartum 6th week and finally in postpartum 6th month after birth.For translation process content, face/content validity, reliability, construct validity and reactivity studies were done. Allwomen had undergone pelvic examination and prolapse was assessed by using Pelvic organ Prolapse Quantification System(POP-Q). Urinary symptoms were also evaluated with Urinary Distress Inventory (UDI-6) questionnaire.Results: The mean age of patients was 27.7 ± 5.5 years. Forty-one (51.25%) of the patients had vaginal delivery and39 (48.75%) had a cesarean section. Above 96% of the patients had completed the questionnaires. POP-Q assessments andUDI-6 results were used to evaluate construct validity. Cronbach’s alpha results were found to be 0.7 for all the subscales ofthe questionnaire: bladder: 0.702, bowel: 0.744, prolapse: 0.701, sexual function: 0.706 respectively, indicating adequatereliability. The test/retest reliability was studied and Pabak values showed moderate reliability in the bowel, prolapse andsexuality, and good reliability for bladder subscale. The results of the patients were compared between pregnancy andpostpartum to assess reactivity and shown to be reactive to changes. Also risk factors of the patients were assessed including,family predisposition, maternal age over 35 years, BMI > 25, nicotine use, subjective inability to contract pelvic floorand sense of postpartum wound pain.Conclusions: The Turkish version of APFDQ is a reliable and valid tool. It can be used for assessing the risk factors, incidence,assessing degree of PFDs and evaluating the impact on quality of life in pregnant and postpartum women