Logging damage and injured tree mortality in tropical forest management

Using insights from the forest ecology literature, we analyze the effect of injured trees on stand composition and carbon stored in above‐ground biomass and the implications for forest management decisions. Results from a Faustmann model with data for a tropical forest on Kalimantan show that up to 50% of the basal area of the stand before harvest can consist of injured trees. Considering injured trees leads to an increase in the amount of carbon in above‐ground biomass of up to 165%. These effects are larger under reduced impact logging than under conventional logging. The effects on land expectation value and cutting cycle are relatively small. The results suggest that considering injured trees in models for tropical forest management is important for the correct assessment of the potential of financial programs to store carbon and conserve forest ecosystem services in managed tropical forests, such as reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and payment for ecosystem services. Recommendations for Resource Managers

• Considering the role of injured trees is important for managing tropical forests
• These trees can cover up to 50% of basal area and contain more than 50% of the carbon stored in above‐ground biomass
• Reduced impact logging leads to a larger basal area of injured trees and more carbon stored in injured trees than conventional logging
• Injured trees play an important role when assessing the potential for carbon storage in the context of payment for forest ecosystem services.

     

Shooting at the poachers while the rhinos drown: Managing short‐ and long‐term threats to endangered wildlife in conservation reserves

This paper addresses management challenges associated with conserving endangered wildlife facing multiple threats from illegal poaching, habitat encroachment, and climate and land‐use change‐induced flooding. While poaching and encroachment challenges in conservation parks are of immediate nature, climate‐related risks exist in the long term. The park manager faces a utility function that includes as its arguments local community’s incomes, benefits to the larger society from preserving threatened species and the financial costs of monitoring and land‐use change efforts. Using the case of single‐horned rhinos in the Kaziranga National Park, India, an optimal mix of monitoring and land‐use changes is designed in presence of tradeoffs between short‐ and long‐term management efforts. As monitoring only addresses immediate challenges associated with poaching and encroachment, long‐term climatic risks remain ignored. Land‐use management offers risk‐protection as well as risk‐insurance benefits with respect to climate change‐induced flooding of the park. Recommendations for Resource Managers

• It is important to incorporate both short‐ and long‐term risks posed to endangered wildlife while investing in conservation efforts. There may exist a tradeoff between mitigating short‐ and long‐run risks due to financial and physical resource constraints. However, ignoring long‐term risks to wildlife habitats can jeopardize past conservation efforts.
• Land‐use management, both within and outside of conservation reserves, enhances resilience to climatic shocks through reducing flooding risks and must be an essential part of wildlife conservation efforts.
• Conservation efforts ignoring local community welfare considerations can become suboptimal as they lead to reduced cooperation and potential conflicts. When wildlife conservation efforts account for local community welfare implications, optimal management plans could result in lower species abundance in the short term. However, increasing the park size through additional land enrollment can mitigate some of this tradeoff.

     

Bioenergy Systems Planning Using Location–Allocation and Landscape Ecology Design Principles

Rural energy planning is a nexus of sustainable development issues, particularly the sustainable utilization of biomass resources, on which rural parts of the developing world remain critically dependent. A landscape based rural bioenergy planning framework is presented, which is based on location–allocation and landscape ecology principles and considers both domestic and commercial energy demands and energy flows, as well as the landscape impact of the required bioenergy production zones. p-median modelling principles underly the location–allocation formulation. Optimized bioenergy landscape designs are presented, which illustrate both accessibility and landscape ecology objectives.     

On Extension and Continuity of p–Additive Functions

In this paper we prove some properties of p–additive functions as well as p–additive set–valued functions.     

Generalized factorization for N×N Daniele–Khrapkov matrix functions

A generalization to N×N of the 2×2 Daniele–Khrapkov class of matrix‐valued functions is proposed. This class retains some of the features of the 2×2 Daniele–Khrapkov class, in particular, the presence of certain square‐root functions in its definition. Functions of this class appear in the study of finite‐dimensional integrable systems. The paper concentrates on giving the main properties of the class, using them to outline a method for the study of the Wiener–Hopf factorization of the symbols of this class. This is done through examples that are completely worked out. One of these examples corresponds to a particular case of the motion of a symmetric rigid body with a fixed point (Lagrange top). Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Optimal fishery with coastal catch

In many spatial resource models, it is assumed that an agent is able to harvest the resource over the complete spatial domain. However, agents frequently only have access to a resource at particular locations at which a moving biomass, such as fish or game, may be caught or hunted. Here, we analyze an infinite time‐horizon optimal control problem with boundary harvesting and (systems of) parabolic partial differential equations as state dynamics. We formally derive the associated canonical system, consisting of a forward–backward diffusion system with boundary controls, and numerically compute the canonical steady states and the optimal time‐dependent paths, and their dependence on parameters. We start with some one‐species fishing models, and then extend the analysis to a predator–prey model of the Lotka–Volterra type. The models are rather generic, and our methods are quite general, and thus should be applicable to large classes of structurally similar bioeconomic problems with boundary controls. Recommedations for Resource Managers

• Just like ordinary differential equation‐constrained (optimal) control problems and distributed partial differential equation (PDE) constrained control problems, boundary control problems with PDE state dynamics may be formally treated by the Pontryagin's maximum principle or canonical system formalism (state and adjoint PDEs).
• These problems may have multiple (locally) optimal solutions; a first overview of suitable choices can be obtained by identifying canonical steady states.
• The computation of canonical paths toward some optimal steady state yields temporal information about the optimal harvesting, possibly including waiting time behavior for the stock to recover from a low‐stock initial state, and nonmonotonic (in time) harvesting efforts.
• Multispecies fishery models may lead to asymmetric effects; for instance, it may be optimal to capture a predator species to protect the prey, even for high costs and low market values of the predators.

     

On the Cauchy problem for Wigner–Poisson–BGK equation in the Wiener algebra

In this paper, we prove the existence and uniqueness of the local mild solution to the Cauchy problem of the n‐dimensional (n≥3) Wigner–Poisson–BGK equation in the space of some integrable functions whose inverse Fourier transform are integrable. The main difficulties in establishing mild solution are to derive the boundedness and locally Lipschitz properties of the appropriate nonlinear terms in the Wiener algebra. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Blending type approximation by q‐generalized Boolean sum of Durrmeyer type

This paper is in continuation of the work performed by Kajla et al. (Applied Mathematics and Computation 2016; 275 : 372–385.) wherein the authors introduced a bivariate extension of q‐Bernstein–Schurer–Durrmeyer operators and studied the rate of convergence with the aid of the Lipschitz class function and the modulus of continuity. Here, we estimate the rate of convergence of these operators by means of Peetre's K‐functional. Then, the associated generalized Boolean sum operator of the q‐Bernstein–Schurer–Durrmeyer type is defined and discussed. The smoothness properties of these operators are improved with the help of mixed K‐functional. Furthermore, we show the convergence of the bivariate Durrmeyer‐type operators and the associated generalized Boolean sum operators to certain functions by illustrative graphics using Maple algorithm. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Solution of the Ulam stability problem for Euler–Lagrange–Jensen k‐quintic mappings

In this paper, we are introducing pertinent Euler–Lagrange–Jensen type k‐quintic functional equations and investigate the ‘Ulam stability’ of these new k‐quintic functional mappings f:X→Y, where X is a real normed linear space and Y a real complete normed linear space. We also solve the Ulam stability problem for Euler–Lagrange–Jensen alternative k‐quintic mappings. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Linear and nonlinear stability thresholds for a diffusive model of pioneer and climax species interaction

In this paper a reaction–diffusion model describing two interacting pioneer and climax species is considered. The role of diffusivity and forcing (stocking or harvesting of the species) on the nonlinear stability of a coexistence equilibrium is analysed. The study is performed in the context of a new approach to nonlinear L²‐stability based on the analysis of stability of the zero solution of a suitable linear system of ordinary differential equations. Theorems concerning the effect of forcing and diffusivity on the dynamics are established and stability–instability thresholds for the system are obtained. An example to illustrate the practical use of the results is also provided. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Stability of the Crank–Nicolson–Adams–Bashforth scheme for the 2D Leray‐alpha model

We consider the stability of an efficient Crank–Nicolson–Adams–Bashforth method in time, finite element in space, discretization of the Leray‐α model. We prove finite‐time stability of the scheme in L², H¹, and H², as well as the long‐time L‐stability of the scheme under a Courant‐Freidrichs‐Lewy (CFL)‐type condition. Numerical experiments are given that are in agreement with the theoretical results. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 32: 1155–1183, 2016     

Numerical and theoretical study of weak Galerkin finite element solutions of Turing patterns in reaction–diffusion systems

In this paper, we introduce numerical schemes and their analysis based on weak Galerkin finite element framework for solving 2‐D reaction–diffusion systems. Weak Galerkin finite element method (WGFEM) for partial differential equations relies on the concept of weak functions and weak gradients, in which differential operators are approximated by weak forms through the Green's theorem. This method allows the use of totally discontinuous functions in the approximation space. In the current work, the WGFEM solves reaction–diffusion systems to find unknown concentrations (u, v) in element interiors and boundaries in the weak Galerkin finite element space WG(P₀, P₀, RT₀) . The WGFEM is used to approximate the spatial variables and the time discretization is made by the backward Euler method. For reaction–diffusion systems, stability analysis and error bounds for semi‐discrete and fully discrete schemes are proved. Accuracy and efficiency of the proposed method successfully tested on several numerical examples and obtained results satisfy the well‐known result that for small values of diffusion coefficient, the steady state solution converges to equilibrium point. Acquired numerical results asserted the efficiency of the proposed scheme.     

Mixed two‐grid finite difference methods for solving one‐dimensional and two‐dimensional Fitzhugh–Nagumo equations

The aim of this paper is to propose mixed two‐grid finite difference methods to obtain the numerical solution of the one‐dimensional and two‐dimensional Fitzhugh–Nagumo equations. The finite difference equations at all interior grid points form a large‐sparse linear system, which needs to be solved efficiently. The solution cost of this sparse linear system usually dominates the total cost of solving the discretized partial differential equation. The proposed method is based on applying a family of finite difference methods for discretizing the spatial and time derivatives. The obtained system has been solved by two‐grid method, where the two‐grid method is used for solving the large‐sparse linear systems. Also, in the proposed method, the spectral radius with local Fourier analysis is calculated for different values of h and Δt. The numerical examples show the efficiency of this algorithm for solving the one‐dimensional and two‐dimensional Fitzhugh–Nagumo equations. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Implicitly enriched Galerkin methods for numerical solutions of fourth‐order partial differential equations containing singularities

Highlights are the following:

• For any integer , we construct ‐continuous partition of unity (PU) functions with flat‐top from B‐spline functions to have numerical solutions of fourth‐order equations with singularities. B‐spline functions are modified to satisfy clamped boundary conditions.
• To handle singularity arising in fourth‐order elliptic differential equations, these modified B‐spline functions are enriched either by introducing enrichment basis functions implicitly through particular geometric mappings or by adding singular basis functions explicitly.
• To show the effectiveness of the proposed implicit enrichment methods (mapping method), the accuracy, the number of degrees of freedom (DOF), and matrix condition numbers are computed and compared in the h‐refinement, the p‐refinement, and the k‐refinement of the approximation space of B‐spline basis functions.

Using Partition of unity (PU) functions with flat‐top, B‐spline functions are modified to satisfy boundary conditions of the fourth‐order equations. Since the standard isogeometric analysis (IGA) as well as the conventional FEM have limitations in handling fourth‐order differential equations containing singularities, we consider two enrichment methods (explicit and implicit) in the framework of the p‐, the k, and the h‐refinements of IGA. We demonstrate that both enrichment methods yield good approximate solutions, but explicit enrichment methods give large (almost singular) matrix condition numbers and face integrating singular functions. Because of these limitations of external enrichment methods, we extensively investigate implicit enrichment methods (mapping methods) that virtually convert fourth‐order elliptic problems with singularities to problems with no influence of the singularities. Effectiveness of the proposed mapping method extensively tested to one‐dimensional fourth‐order equation with singularities. The implicit enrichment (mapping) method is extended to the two‐dimensional cases and test it to fourth‐order partial differential equations on cracked domains.     

A moving Kriging‐based MLPG method for nonlinear Klein–Gordon equation

In this paper, the meshless local Petrov–Galerkin approximation is proposed to solve the 2‐D nonlinear Klein–Gordon equation. We used the moving Kriging interpolation instead of the MLS approximation to construct the meshless local Petrov–Galerkin shape functions. These shape functions possess the Kronecker delta function property. The Heaviside step function is used as a test function over the local sub‐domains. Here, no mesh is needed neither for integration of the local weak form nor for construction of the shape functions. So the present method is a truly meshless method. We employ a time‐stepping method to deal with the time derivative and a predictor–corrector scheme to eliminate the nonlinearity. Several examples are performed and compared with analytical solutions and with the results reported in the extant literature to illustrate the accuracy and efficiency of the presented method. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Kantorovich variant of a new kind of q‐Bernstein–Schurer operators

Ren and Zeng (2013) introduced a new kind of q‐Bernstein–Schurer operators and studied some approximation properties. Acu et al. (2016) defined the Durrmeyer modification of these operators and studied the rate of convergence and statistical approximation. The purpose of this paper is to introduce a Kantorovich modification of these operators by using q‐Riemann integral and investigate the rate of convergence by means of the Lipschitz class and the Peetre's K‐functional. Next, we introduce the bivariate case of q‐Bernstein–Schurer–Kantorovich operators and study the degree of approximation with the aid of the partial modulus continuity, Lipschitz space, and the Peetre's K‐functional. Finally, we define the generalized Boolean sum operators of the q‐Bernstein–Schurer–Kantorovich type and investigate the approximation of the Bögel continuous and Bögel differentiable functions by using the mixed modulus of smoothness. Furthermore, we illustrate the convergence of the operators considered in the paper for the univariate case and the associated generalized Boolean sum operators to certain functions by means of graphics using Maple algorithms. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Asymptotic stability of stationary solutions to the compressible bipolar Navier–Stokes–Poisson equations

In this paper, we consider the compressible bipolar Navier–Stokes–Poisson equations with a non‐flat doping profile in three‐dimensional space. The existence and uniqueness of the non‐constant stationary solutions are established when the doping profile is a small perturbation of a positive constant state. Then under the smallness assumption of the initial perturbation, we show the global existence of smooth solutions to the Cauchy problem near the stationary state. Finally, the convergence rates are obtained by combining the energy estimates for the nonlinear system and the L²‐decay estimates for the linearized equations. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

General Littlewood–Paley functions and singular integral operators on product spaces

This paper is devoted to the study on the L^p ‐mapping properties for certain singular integral operators with rough kernels and related Littlewood–Paley functions along “polynomial curves” on product spaces ?^m × ?ⁿ (m ≥ 2, n ≥ 2). By means of the method of block decomposition for kernel functions and some delicate estimates on Fourier transforms, the author proves that the singular integral operators and Littlewood–Paley functions are bounded on L^p (?^m × ?ⁿ ), p ∈ (1, ∞), and the bounds are independent of the coefficients of the polynomials. These results essentially improve or extend some well‐known results. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Farm households’ rice production behavior in China under a separability assumption: A metaheuristic optimization approach

The production behavior of farm households has been a topic of interest for a long time. We explore the optimal production strategies from a household's perspective under the assumption of separability between consumption and production. The data used for this study come from farm households located in five provinces of China. To identify the impacts of various parameters on farmers' production behavior, optimal solutions and the households' actual production behaviors are compared. Results show that most of the households overinvested on farm land, labor force, materials, and machinery. Compared to existing production efficiency estimates, households, regardless of size, and exhibit different degrees of nonseparability. The sensitivity analysis shows a similar result, but finds that large households become more efficient if they have a higher production coefficient. The optimized result obtained in this paper not only provides farmers with decision‐support information on efficient resource allocation, but also helps policymakers to formulate better agricultural policies. Recommendations for Resource Managers A household production model is constructed to assess whether production and consumption behaviors are different among Chinese farmers. A genetic algorithm that belongs to a metaheuristic cluster is applied to search for the optimal solution, given the parameters obtained from using a ridge regression model. The following implications could be recommended based on the findings of the paper:

• The goodness of the convergence of the algorithm helps to find the optimal rice production decision, when facing a large number of input variables.
• The evidence that can support the separability among farm household's production behavior which to some degree supports nonseparability.
• As some of the external parameters, such as nonagricultural income, as well as farm scale, are increased, the optimal solution shows the separability among some households.
• Unless farm size is increased substantially, there is a need to support farmers in production behavior so that they can be efficient and profitable rather than just subsistent.

     

A note on conjugate distributions for copulas

A family of conjugated distributions for a given type of copulas is defined in this paper. Those copulas can be written as a mixture of d‐dimensional parameter exponential functions. The generalized Farlie–Gumbel–Morgenstern copula is an example of this representation. This family is used to illustrate the estimation technique with real data. Also, the applicability of Bayesian predictive approach is shown in an education policy issue by defining goals for the number of students per class that leads to improve their performance at school. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.