NUMERICAL SOLUTIONS OF SINGULAR NONLINEAR ORDINARY DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS USING SAID-BALL POLYNOMIALS

In this article, the collocation method based on Said-Ball polynomials have been used to solve the singular nonlinear ordinary differential equations of various orders numerically. An operational matrix forms of these ordinary differential equations are obtained from Said-Ball polynomial with variated relations of solution and different derivatives. The presented method reduces the given problem to a system of nonlinear algebraic equations, which removed the singularity of ordinary differential equations. Resulting system is solved using Newton\u27s iteration method to get the coefficients of Said-Ball polynomials. We obtained approximate solutions of the problem under study. Numerical results have been obtained and compared with exact and other works. The presented method gives impressive solutions, that show the accuracy and reliability of the proposed method

Covariant and Heavy Quark Symmetric Quark Models

There exist relativistic quark models (potential or MIT-bag) which satisfy the heavy quark symmetry (HQS) relations among meson decay constants and form factors. Covariant construction of the momentum eigenstates, developed here, can correct for spurious center-of-mass motion contributions.Proton form factor and M1 transitions in quarkonia are calculated. Explicit expression for the Isgur-Wise function is found and model determined deviations from HQS are studied. All results depend on the model parameters only. No additional ad hoc assumptions are needed.Comment: 34 pages (2 figures not included but avaliable upon request), LATEX, (to be published in Phys.Rev.D

The governance, risk-taking, and performance of Islamic banks

We examine whether the difference in governance structures influences the risk taking and performance of Islamic banks compared to conventional banks. Using a sample of 52 Islamic banks and 104 conventional banks in 14 countries for the period from 2005 to 2013, we conclude that the governance structure in Islamic banks plays a crucial role in risk taking as well as financial performance that is distinct from conventional banks. Particularly, we show that the governance structure in Islamic banks allows them to take higher risks and achieve better performance because of product complexities and transaction mechanisms. However, Islamic banks maintain a higher capitalization compared to conventional banks. These results support the research on Islamic investment and risk taking. Our results add a new dimension to the governance research that could be a valuable source of knowledge for policy makers and regulators in the financial services sector

Heterogeneity in independent non-executive directors' attributes and risk-taking in large banks

The extant literature suggests that complex firms can benefit from independent non-executive director (INED) quality. To address the issue of INED quality, we look at heterogeneity in the independent non-executive directors' (INEDs') attributes and explore whether this is related to risk-taking behaviour in large banks. We gather novel, hand-collected, director-level data for approximately 2400 independent non-executive directors (INEDs) of 185 global large banks from 35 countries for the period of 2004–2016, concluding that heterogeneity in INEDs' gender, financial expertise, and board tenure all influence risk-taking behaviour. Employing several identification strategies, we show that the cause seems to be heterogeneity in the INEDs' attributes, as channelled through information asymmetry. We also find that heterogeneity in the INEDs' attributes significantly mitigates bank risk-taking in the post-2009 period. Our study contributes to the literature on both the benefits of INEDs and director heterogeneity

International Stock Market Leadership and its Determinants

We study time-varying price leadership between international stock markets using a Markov switching causality model. We demonstrate variations in the causality pattern over time, with the US being the dominant country in causing other markets. We examine the factors which determine a country’s role in the causal relationship. For country-specific factors, we show that trades openness increases price leadership. We also find that the lead–lag relationship between the stock markets is weaker during crisis periods, confirming the “wake-up call” hypothesis, with markets and investors focusing substantially more on idiosyncratic, country-specific characteristics during the crisis

Hairy cell leukemia: Current concepts

Hairy cell Leukemia (HCL) is a chronic lymphoproliferative disorder that was characterized in the late 1950s. HCL is defined, according to the WHO classification, as a mature (peripheral) B-cell neoplasm (1). HCL accounts for between 2-3% of all leukemia cases, with about 600 new cases diagnosed in the U.S. each year (1). HCL occurs more commonly in males, with an overall male to female ratio of approximately 4:1. The median age of onset is 52 years. This disease is seen more commonly in Caucasians and appears to be especially frequent in Ashkenazi Jewish males, with rare occurrence in persons of Asian and African descents (1). Hairy cells are distinct, clonal B cells arrested at a late stage of maturation. They are small B lymphoid cells that possess oval nuclei and abundant cytoplasm with characteristic micro-filamentous ( hairy ) projections. They strongly express CD103, CD22, and CD11c (2). These cells typically infiltrate the bone marrow, the spleen, and to a lesser extent the liver, lymph nodes, and skin. Many patients present with splenomegaly and pancytopenia. Other clinical manifestations include recurrent opportunistic infections and vasculitis. Historically, HCL was considered uniformly fatal (2). However, recent treatment advances, using purine analogues such as Cladribine and Pentostatin, led to a significant improvement in prognosis with achievement of high response rates and durable remissions (2). Copyright © Informa Healthcare USA, Inc

Bank corporate governance and future earnings predictability

This study examines the impact of corporate governance on earnings predictability (future cash flows) for banks operating in 71 countries over the period 2007 to 2016. We find that board structure and CEO power have a significant influence on future cash flows. In contrast, risk governance variables have no significant influence. These findings vary between developed and emerging countries, common and civil law countries, and different sized banks. Board structure is more effective in predicting future cash flows in civil law and developed countries than in common law and emerging economies

High Lp(a) associated with very premature coronary heart disease

© 2019 Although high levels of Lp(a) have become increasingly recognized as a risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD), its association with very premature CHD (ie, younger than 30 years) is unclear. We present a case of a young woman with very high levels of Lp(a) in whom accelerated CHD is unlikely to be accounted for by traditional risk factors