Effect of Landauer's blowtorch on the equilibration rate in a bistable potential

Kinetic aspect of Landauer's blowtorch effect is investigated for a model double-well potential with localized heating. Using the supersymmetric approach, we derive an approximate analytical expression for the equilibration rate as function of the strength, width and the position of the hot zone, and the barrier height. We find that the presence of the hot zone enhances the equilibration rate, which is found to be an increasing function of the strength and width of the hot zone. Our calculations also reveal an intriguing result, namely, that placing the hot zone away from the top of the potential barrier enhances the rate more than when it is placed close to it. A physically plausible explanation for this is attempted. The above analytical results are borne out by detailed numerical solution of the associated Smoluchowski equation for the inhomogeneous medium.Comment: 15 pages in LaTeX format and 6 figures in postscript E-Mail : [email protected] [email protected]

Analysis of the Changing Functional Structure of Major Urban Centers of Ethiopia

The study attempted to analyze the patterns of the changing functional structure of major urban centers of Ethiopia over the period of 2009 to 2012. An economic base, export employment multiplier and shift share analysis were used to identify the basic sectors, the export employment and expanding and declining industries in fifteen major urban centers. The location quotient results showed that there have been changes in economic bases, for twelve out of fifteen urban centers. The major sources of export employment were construction, distributive and social services for most of the towns considered. Export employment analysis has indicated that some towns of leading regions have relatively higher percentage of export employment compared to others. In general, the major drivers of the urban employment growth in many urban centers over the study period were found to be distributive, social and extractive sectors. However, the role of the transformative economic sectors, particularly the manufacturing sector is not as such encouraging for many towns. Against this back drop, the analysis surfaced local economic development issue such as how the towns included in this study could capitalize more on the transformative economic sectors through various incentive mechanisms.Keywords: Urban Functions, Basic Employment, Employment Multiplier, Location Quotient, Shift Share Analysi

Is Income Inequality Endogenous in Regional Growth?

This study focuses on testing the relationship between income inequality and growth within U.S. counties, and the channels through which such effects are observed. The study tests three hypotheses: (1) income inequality has an inverse relationship with growth; (2) regional growth adjustments are the channels through which the inequality and growth are equilibrated; and (3) income inequality is endogenous to regional growth and its adjustment. Results, based on a system of equations estimation, confirm the hypotheses that income inequality has a growth dampening effect; income inequality is endogenous to regional growth and growth adjustment; and the channels through which income inequality determines growth are regional growth adjustments, such as migration and regional adjustment in job and income growth. Results have numerous policy implications: (1) to the extent that income inequality is endogenous, its equilibrium level can be internally determined within a regional growth process; (2) to the extent that traditional income inequality mitigating policies have indirect effect on overall regional growth, they may have unintended indirect effects on income inequality; and (3) to the extent that regional growth adjustment also equilibrates income inequality, such forces can be utilized as policy instruments to mitigate income inequality, and its growth dampening effects hence forth.Income inequality, economic growth, Gini coefficient, growth modeling, population change, per capita income, Community/Rural/Urban Development, Public Economics, I32, J15, O18, P25, R11, R23, R25, R51, R53, R58,

Acute loss of vision in a young woman: A case report on psychogenic blindness

Background: Acute loss of vision needs urgent attention and treatment. We report on a young Ethiopian woman who experienced acute bilateral blindness. In the presence of normal ophthalmological findings psychogenic blindness has to be considered.Case Details: A 21 years old woman was admitted to the psychiatry clinic at Jimma University specialized Hospital, Jimma, South West Ethiopia. She had not been able to see for a few days. Ophthalmological and neurological examinations showed normal findings. No severe psychopathology was found. Stressful life events had preceded the appearance of the symptoms. An attitude of accepting the perspective of the patient of a seemingly organic disease is a precondition for a successful intervention. Treatment aimed at a gradual return to normal functioning. The patient regained her sight and fully recovered. The final psychiatric diagnosis was psychogenic blindness.Conclusion: The psychosocial intervention was successful and encouraging for the patient and clinicians.Keywords: acute loss of vision, psychosocial intervention, conversion disorder, low-income country, international cooperation