Multidimensional Poverty Rankings based on Pareto Principle: A Practical Extension

This paper proposes a ranking method of multidimensional poverty and extends it aiming to enhance its practical utility. While our original ranking method that assumes non-comparability among different dimensions of poverty succeeds in eliminating some implicit arbitrariness in existing ranking, it also confronts a disadvantage that a non- negligible number of objectives (countries) are ranked at the same level. In order to improve this disadvantage, we propose an extended ranking method, where we allow the data to have a certain range of bandwidth. The introduction of bandwidth improves the usefulness of our ranking in the sense that it decreases the number of countries with the same rank. In addition, a simulation exercise shows that this extension also improves the robustness of the ranking against measurement errors.

Human Development Rankings Based on the Pareto Dominance: Illustrations Using Cross-country Panel Data 1980-2007

This paper aims (a) to propose two types of human development rankings, a maximal order ranking (MAXOR) and a minimal order ranking (MINOR), and (b) to examine the characteristics of these rankings by using the ranking results derived from the balanced and unbalanced cross-country panel datasets for the period 1980 to 2007. As a means of illustration, I compare these ranking characteristics and results to those of the human development index (HDI), one of the most prevalent human development measurement tools. The MAXOR and MINOR ranking results have a high correlation with the HDI ranking. However, unlike the HDI, the MAXOR and MINOR do not have to undergo aggregation or indexation when their rankings are being generated. Consequently, they successfully eliminate some of the arbitrariness that is implicit in other existing rankings. The MAXOR and MINOR ranking results are comparatively vaguer than those of other typical rankings such as the HDI in that multiple observations are often ranked identically. However, this vagueness also presents the possibility that these rankings will gain wide acceptance. From 1980 to 2007, the number of rank groups and the distributions of the countries of the MAXOR and MINOR were relatively robust to changes in the total number of countries. This means that a rank order for a specific country in the MAXOR or MINOR shows its relative position against all other countries, regardless of the year in which the country is set and the number of countries. In this sense, these rankings are more appropriate for tracing the historical transition of each country compared to other typical rankings.multidimensional poverty measurement, Pareto dominance, ranking, Human Development Index (HDI)

Effect of Material Combinations and Relative Crack Size on the Stress Intensity Factors of Edge Interface Cracks

In this paper, the stress intensity factors (SIFs) of a single edge interface crack in the bi-material bonded strip subjected to in-plane tension and bending moment are investigated systematically. The SIFs are computed for arbitrary material combinations with varying the relative crack size a/W. Specifically, some necessary skills as refined mesh and extrapolations of the stress intensity factors are used to improve the accuracy of the calculation. For the edge interface crack, it is found that the dimensionless SIFs are not always finite for the edge interface cracks in the bonded semi-infinite plate depending on Dundurs’ material composite parameters11th International Conference on the mechanical behavior of Materials (ICM11), 5-9 June 2011, Como, Ital

Critical Intensity of Singular Stress for Adhesive Joints

In this study debonding conditions of an adhesively bonded joint are discussed in terms of the intensities of the singular stress fields. Here, two types of models are considered; one is the perfectly-bonded strip model, and the other is partially-debonded model assuming different debonded lengths. The previous experimental data are examined, which were obtained for S35C JIS medium carbon steel plates bonded with epoxy resin Epikote 871. It is found that the critical values of the intensity of singular stress are almost constant independent of the adhesive thickness. In other words, the adhesive strength can be estimated from the intensities of singular stress from both of the perfectly-bonded and partially-debonded models.23rd International Congress of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, August 19-24, 2012, Beijing, Chin

Econometric Analysis of Radiata Pine Log Trade between New Zealand and East Asian Countries

There is an increasing interest in the sustainable supply of wood from New Zealand’s plantation forests.This is due to the importance of New Zealand in global trade and uncertainty about the sustainabilityof supply from other countries, such as Russia. The aim of this paper is to identify importantfactors that influence log supply and demand for New Zealand and its key Asian markets (South Korea,Japan and China). To this end we used annual time series data from 1990 to 2008 to estimate exportsupply and import demand functions by two stage least squares with stepwise regression estimation.We found that New Zealand’s log exports to Japan and South Korea are not sensitive to price,but exports to China are sensitive to price, while New Zealand’s total harvest has a stronger influenceon log export supply to China and South Korea. New Zealand’s domestic log consumption competeswith exports to Japan, but does not compete with supply to South Korea or China. Import demand inSouth Korea, Japan, and China for New Zealand logs is negatively affected by import price, with Japan’simport demand the most price-sensitive. The three markets differ in the impact of gross domesticproduct on import demand. Gross domestic product has a strong positive impact on log demand inJapan and China, but a modest impact in South Korea

The effect of attitudes and motivation on language learning of Japanese adults

This study investigates the relationship between attitudinal factors and language learning of Japanese learners of English. The subjects were 27 Japanese graduate and undergraduate students who studied at a university in the United States. They participated in a survey which consisted of an English proficiency test, questionnaires, and Japanese proficiency tests. The questionnaires were designed to measure their attitudes toward Americans and Japanese, and toward the proper model of spoken English, and also to measure their orientations for learning English and for coming to America. The results showed that 81.5% of the Japanese students in this study had favorable (i.e., integrative) attitudes toward Americans, 44% had integrative orientation for coming to America, and 54% had integrative orientations for learning English. It also showed that 52% of the students considered American English as the proper model of spoken English, and 4% considered Japanese English as the proper model. This attitude toward American English as the model was stronger for males, or for the students who have stayed in America longer. The test score of Japanese or English proficiency tests did not correlate with any attitudinal/orientational factors, but they correlated with the length of the students' stay in America. The correlation between the English test score and the length of stay was significant and negative; the longer the students stayed in America, the lower their English test score was. The correlation between the Japanese test score and the length of stay was also negative but statistically non-significant. Several other correlations were also found.Department of EnglishThesis (M.A.

Physiological and histological study on the different extension of the motor cortex of the brain Part Ⅱ. On the motor cortex of the monkey brain

The same method of investigation as stated in part Ⅰ was used on 4 cases of the monkey brain (Macaca muletta). 1) The extent of the center for the hind limb responded to electric stimulation was almost as same as or a little narrower than the extent with the Betz cells, while the extent of the center for the fore limb was much wider than the extent with the Betz cells. 2) The extent with motor response first appeared like islands at the threshold voltage, became larger as the voltage increased and then the extents for the upper and lower limbs became doubled, thus making the mixed area. 3) This enlargement of the mixed area by increased stimulation had a tendency to move towards the center for the lower limb. 4) The threshold of stimulation was the lowest at the center for the upper limb, then at that for the lower limb, and the highest at the mixed area. And even in the same center, the threshold was lower at the central part with more Betz cells and higher at the peripheral part with less Betz cells. From these facts, it would appear that the extent of the motor cortex determined physiologically is not always the same as the extent of the distribution of the Betz cells, but is due to the density and sensitivity of the original nerve cells of the pyramidal tract, regardless of the size of the cells