Does institutional quality drive innovation? Evidence from system-GMM estimates

This paper investigates the influence of institutional quality on innovation performance in developing countries by employing annual data from 1997-2014. The system-generalized method of moments (GMM) is used as the empirical method. Estimation results reveal that bureaucratic quality, government stability, democratic accountability, and law and order indicators that represent institutional quality have had a positive influence on innovation performance. These results indicate that improving the institutional structure in the developing countries would have a significant contribution to the innovation process and hence economic developmen

Estimation of the co-movements between biofuel production and food prices: A wavelet-based analysis

Recently, the significance of biofuel production on food prices has become an important topic of discussion within the framework of sustainable development. Based on the relevant discussions, this work aims at observing the influence of biofuel production on food prices in the US for the monthly period 1981–2018 by considering all possible structural changes between the co-movements of the variables. In the analyses, oil prices and population variables are also employed as control variables. To this end, we use continuous wavelet model estimations for the whole sample period and sub-sample periods at different frequencies. All computations have considered the potential changes in co-movements of the variables at different sub-sample periods corresponding to high and low frequencies of observed time series data. Estimation results show that there exist significant relationships between biofuel production and food prices in the short-term and long-term cycles. The outcomes of the research hence may provide some insights into the design of sustainable energy and food policies in the United States. © 2020 Elsevier Lt

Syncing Our Cycles: An Inquiry-Based Coaching Model for Distant Supervision

In response to calls for a reconceptualized approach to pre-service teacher supervision, we propose a model of distant supervision for teacher candidates that blends two evidence-based professional development practices--instructional coaching and practitioner inquiry. The fusion of these frameworks can foster inquiry communities that may ease the transition from teacher candidate to teacher of record. Citing the dilemmas inherent in distant supervision, we argue that this hybrid coaching/inquiry model of student teaching supervision is more suitable to supervision at a distance than coaching or inquiry alone. We invite both comment and critique, hoping to begin a dialogue about how practitioner research can be both enhanced through other professional learning methods and embedded in teacher preparation even at a distance

The impact of oil prices on CO2 emissions in China: A Wavelet coherence approach

This paper observes the possible co-movements of oil price and CO2 emissions in China by following wavelet coherence and wavelet partial coherence analyses to be able to depict short-run and long-run co-movements at both low and high frequencies. To this end, this research might provide the current literature with the output of potential short run and long run, structural, changes in CO2 emissions upon a shock (a change) in oil prices in China together with the control variables of World oil prices, fossil energy consumption, and renewables consumption, and, urban population in China. Therefore, this research aims at determining wavelet coherencies between the variables and phase differences to exhibit the leading variable in potential co-movements. By following the time domain and frequency domain analyses of this research, one may claim that the oil prices in China has considerable negative impact on CO2 emissions at high frequencies for the periods 1960-2014 and 1971-2014 in China. Besides, one may underline as well other important output of the research exploring that the urban population and CO2 emissions have positive associations, move together for the period 1960-2014 in China. Eventually, this paper might suggest that authorities follow demand side management policies considering energy demand behavior at both shorter cycles and longer cycles to diminish the CO2 emissions in China

Active shrinkage protects neurons following axonal transection

Trauma, vascular events, or neurodegenerative processes can lead to axonal injury and eventual transection (axotomy). Neurons can survive axotomy, yet the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Excessive water entry into injured neurons poses a particular risk due to swelling and subsequent death. Using in vitro and in vivo neurotrauma model systems based on laser transection and surgical nerve cut, we demonstrated that axotomy triggers actomyosin contraction coupled with calpain activity. As a consequence, neurons shrink acutely to force water out through aquaporin channels preventing swelling and bursting. Inhibiting shrinkage increased the probability of neuronal cell death by about 3-fold. These studies reveal a previously unrecognized cytoprotective response mechanism to neurotrauma and offer a fresh perspective on pathophysiological processes in the nervous system.Yüzüncü Yıl Universit