Analysis of the mean squared derivative cost function

In this paper, we investigate the mean squared derivative cost functions that arise in various applications such as in motor control, biometrics and optimal transport theory. We provide qualitative properties, explicit analytical formulas and computational algorithms for the cost functions. We also perform numerical simulations to illustrate the analytical results. In addition, as a by-product of our analysis, we obtain an explicit formula for the inverse of a Wronskian matrix that is of independent interest in linear algebra and differential equations theory.Comment: 28 page

EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF AUTOMATIC SPRINKLING SYSTEM FOR SHALLOT CULTIVATION IN VINH CHAU DISTRICT, SOC TRANG PROVINCE

Shallot is one of the main crops in Vinh Chau district, Soc Trang province where farming techniques are still simply and mainly based on traditional irrigation types. In the district, groundwater is the main water source for daily uses of the local and farming activities. However, this water source increasingly becomes scarity due to over-exploitations. Therefore, this study aims to save water in agricultural production by applying automatic sprinkling irrigation model (Sprinklers system) in shallot farming and Vinh Chau district is selected as the research site. In this study, the amount of irrigation water for Shallot will be determined by CropWat model and the irrigation time will be measured by a soil moisture device (Takemura DM -15). The results show that the automatic sprinkling system model has saved by 43 - 59 % water amount and 85-91 % time of irrigation per 1000 m2 compared to traditional irrigation methods. The input costs of automatic sprinkling system are estimated at about 8 million VND/1000 m2 and it can be applied for many types of plants with its span of 4 years (depending on users’ uses). In conclusion, the automatic sprinkling irrigation model can alter traditional methods of famers in order to improve productivity, reduce negative impacts on groundwater source, and to adapt to water shortage due to climate change impacts

On the distribution of the number of internal equilibria in random evolutionary games

In this paper, we study the distribution of the number of internal equilibria of a multi-player two-strategy random evolutionary game. Using techniques from the random polynomial theory, we obtain a closed formula for the probability that the game has a certain number of internal equilibria. In addition, by employing Descartes' rule of signs and combinatorial methods, we provide useful estimates for this probability. Finally, we also compare our analytical results with those obtained from samplings.Comment: 31 pages, comments are welcome. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1708.0167

The trilemma of sustainable industrial growth: evidence from a piloting OECD’s Green city

Can green growth policies help protect the environment while keeping the industry growing and infrastructure expanding? The City of Kitakyushu, Japan has actively implemented eco-friendly policies since 1967 and recently inspired the pursuit of sustainable development around the world, especially in the Global South region. However, empirical studies on the effects of green growth policies are still lacking. This study explores the relationship between road infrastructure development and average industrial firm size with air pollution in the city through the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis. Auto-Regressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) and Non-linear Auto-Regressive Distributed Lag (NARDL) methods were applied on nearly 50-years’ time series data, from 1967 to 2015. The results show that the shape of the EKC of industrial growth, measured by average firm size, depends on the type of air pollution: inverted N-shaped relationships with NO2 and CO, and the U-shaped relationships with falling dust particle and Ox. Regarding infrastructure development, on the one hand, our analysis shows a positive effect of road construction on alleviating the amount of falling dust and CO concentration. On the other hand, the emissions of NO2 and Ox are shown to rise when plotted against road construction. The decline of CO emission, when plotted against both industrial growth and road development, indicates that the ruthlessness of the local government in pursuing green growth policies has been effective in this case. However, the story is not straightforward when it comes to other air pollutants, which hints at the limits of the current policies. The case of Kitakyushu illustrates the complex dynamics of the interaction among policy, industry, infrastructure, and air pollution. It can serve as an important reference point for other cities in the Global South when policies are formed, and progress is measured in the pursuit of a green economy. Finally, as an OECD SDGs pilot city and the leading Asian green-growth city, policymakers in Kitakyushu city are recommended to revise the data policy to enhance the findability and interoperability of data, as well as to invest in the application of big data

Exploring Environmental Kuznets Curves of Kitakyushu: 50-year Time-series Data of the OECD SDGs Pilot City

Can green growth policies help protect the environment while keeping the industry growing and infrastructure expanding? The City of Kitakyushu, Japan, has actively implemented eco-friendly policies since 1967 and recently inspired the pursuit of sustainable development around the world, especially in the Global South region. However, empirical studies on the effects of green growth policies are still lacking. This study explores the relationship between road infrastructure development and average industrial firm size with air pollution in the city through the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis. Auto-Regressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) and Non-linear Auto-Regressive Distributed Lag (NARDL) methods were applied on nearly 50-years’ time series data, from 1967 to 2015. The results show that the shape of the EKC of industrial growth, measured by average firm size, depends on the type of air pollution: inverted N-shaped relationships with NO2 and CO, and the U-shaped relationships with falling dust particle and Ox. Regarding infrastructure development, on the one hand, our analysis shows a positive effect of road construction on alleviating the amount of falling dust and CO concentration. On the other hand, the emissions of NO2 and Ox are shown to rise when plotted against road construction. The decline of CO emission, when plotted against both industrial growth and road development, indicates that the ruthlessness of the local government in pursuing green growth policies is effective in this case. However, the story is not straightforward when it comes to other air pollutants, which hint at limits in the current policies. The case of Kitakyushu illustrates the complex dynamics of the interaction among policy, industry, infrastructure, and air pollution. It can serve as an important reference point for other cities in the Global South when policies are formed, and progress is measured in the pursuit of a green economy. Finally, as an OECD SDGs pilot city and the leading Asian green-growth city, policymakers in Kitakyushu city are recommended to revise the data policy to enhance the findability and interoperability of data as well as to invest in the application of big data

Economic freedom and natural disasters’ losses: Evidence from Asia

This paper examines the impact of economic freedom on losses of natural disasters in 35 Asian countries over the period 2000 – 2018. Results from various estimation methods show that economic freedom reduces natural disasters – proxied by both of total number of deaths and total economic losses from natural disasters, and this beneficial impact is intensified with the improvement of property rights and government integrity. Our findings assert the important role of economic freedom, property rights and government integrity in mitigating the losses of natural disasters

On how religions could accidentally incite lies and violence: folktales as a cultural transmitter

Folklore has a critical role as a cultural transmitter, all the while being a socially accepted medium for the expressions of culturally contradicting wishes and conducts. In this study of Vietnamese folktales, through the use of Bayesian multilevel modeling and the Markov chain Monte Carlo technique, we offer empirical evidence for how the interplay between religious teachings (Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism) and deviant behaviors (lying and violence) could affect a folktale’s outcome. The findings indicate that characters who lie and/or commit violent acts tend to have bad endings, as intuition would dictate, but when they are associated with any of the above Three Teachings, the final endings may vary. Positive outcomes are seen in cases where characters associated with Confucianism lie and characters associated with Buddhism act violently. The results supplement the worldwide literature on discrepancies between folklore and real-life conduct, as well as on the contradictory human behaviors vis-à-vis religious teachings. Overall, the study highlights the complexity of human decision-making, especially beyond the folklore realm