Continuous Spin Representations from Group Contraction

We consider how the continuous spin representation (CSR) of the Poincare group in four dimensions can be generated by dimensional reduction. The analysis uses the front-form little group in five dimensions, which must yield the Euclidean group E(2), the little group of the CSR. We consider two cases, one is the single spin massless representation of the Poincare group in five dimensions, the other is the infinite component Majorana equation, which describes an infinite tower of massive states in five dimensions. In the first case, the double singular limit j,R go to infinity, with j/R fixed, where R is the Kaluza-Klein radius of the fifth dimension, and j is the spin of the particle in five dimensions, yields the CSR in four dimensions. It amounts to the Inonu-Wigner contraction, with the inverse K-K radius as contraction parameter. In the second case, the CSR appears only by taking a triple singular limit, where an internal coordinate of the Majorana theory goes to infinity, while leaving its ratio to the KK radius fixed.Comment: 22 pages; some typos correcte

Islamic Commercial Banking In Europe: A Cross-Country And Inter-Bank Analysis Of Efficiency Performance

We examine the relative efficiency performance of the Islamic Bank of Britain (IBB), the first stand-alone full-fledged Islamic commercial bank in the Western world, against conventional banks in the UK, and also against Islamic banks from Muslim-majority countries. We also apply a two-stage Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model to determine the impact of internal and external factors on bank's efficiency. In order to investigate the association of the DEA-efficiency scores with the traditional accounting ratios, we estimate the correlation coefficients between the two variables. The efficiency-profitability matrix is used to enable the characterization of the banks' performance profile. Our analysis covers the period from 2005 to 2008. Our results show that the IBB is technically inefficient. It also has relatively a poor financial performance. The bank‘s inefficiency stems from both scale (size) and management issues. IBB exhibits, however, an upward trend in efficiency and profitability, particularly in adverse market conditions. Thus, it has a great prospect to increase efficiency and strong potential for further growth in the UK. Additionally, results suggest that the technically more efficient banks are larger, have greater profitability and loans intensity, acquire less debt, and on average have a lower market share. IBB is relatively superior in terms of lending intensity and capital adequacy. Findings further illustrate that the DEA measures can be used separately or concurrently with standard accounting measures in determining Islamic banks performance

Comparison Of Efficiency And Productivity Changes Of Islamic And Conventional Banks: Evidence From Europe And Muslim-Majority Countries?

This paper examines the efficiency performance of Bosna Bank International (BBI) in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Islamic Bank of Britain (IBB) in the UK, against small conventional banks in each country and also against small and large Islamic banks from Muslim-majority countries. This paper also estimates the productivity changes of IBB and BBI relative to small Islamic banks, within and outside Europe, and relative to small conventional banks in the UK and Bosnia respectively. Finally, this paper utilizes OLS regression analysis to check the robustness of the overall data envelopment analysis (DEA) results, as well as to determine the impact of internal and external factors on bank's efficiency. The analysis covers the 4-year period from 2005 through 2008. The findings suggest that IBB and BBI are technically inefficient. In comparison with small banks, inefficiency is largely due to mismanagement. Inefficiency becomes scale in nature relative to large Islamic banks. As compared to Islamic banks, BBI yields higher pure technical efficiency than IBB, but IBB records higher positive growth in estimated efficiency. IBB and BBI yield upward growth in total factor productivity and technical efficiency but record negative growth in technology innovations. Results also suggest that the IBB and BBI lag relatively behind their conventional peer banks in terms of efficiency and productivity performance. BBI shows much better efficiency performance relative to conventional banks than IBB. Overall, a bank that is more efficient is found to be larger, more profitable, acquire less debt, invest more in skills, and operates in countries with a higher GDP per capita

Continuous Spin Representations of the Poincar\'e and Super-Poincar\'e Groups

We construct Wigner's continuous spin representations of the Poincar\'e algebra for massless particles in higher dimensions. The states are labeled both by the length of a space-like translation vector and the Dynkin indices of the {\it short little group} $SO(d-3)$, where $d$ is the space-time dimension. Continuous spin representations are in one-to-one correspondence with representations of the short little group. We also demonstrate how combinations of the bosonic and fermionic representations form supermultiplets of the super-Poincar\'e algebra. If the light-cone translations are nilpotent, these representations become finite dimensional, but contain zero or negative norm states, and their supersymmetry algebra contains a central charge in four dimensions.Comment: 19 page

PERCEPTION OF ACADEMIC STAFF OVER THEIR CAREER DUE TO TECHNOLOGY IMPLEMENTATION AT SOHAR UNIVERSITY

Purpose: The objectives of the study are to analyze ways through which technology introduced in Sohar University is helping the lectures teaching in the University and improves their research activities and to analyze the methods of administrative works of lectures in the University. Design/methodology/approach: To carry out this research study, 133 samples were collected from academic staff working in all the faculties of Sohar University using a questionnaire. The questionnaire was containing the personal details, teaching, research and administration related factors. The data obtained was analyzed, and interpreted to obtain the result. Main Findings: The study reveals that the academic staff feels the technology implementation has improved the teaching pattern and standards of the university and hence their teaching style also has changed. It is also proven that the academic staff feels the technology implementation has helped to improve their research career. It is shown that the academic staff feels the technology implementation has helped to reduce their administrative work. Research limitations/Implications: It was reported that the technology implementation would be successful only when adequate training is given beforehand and most time is wasted for rectifying the technical bugs arising due to technological implementation. Social implications: The study suggests that technology implementation is successful only if technical staff regularly maintains computers. They also suggested that there is a need for software skills training though it is time-consuming. Originality/Value: Only a very few have examined the perception of the academic staff of all the faculties at University level in Oman, and it is a first-hand study of its kind, and the results will be useful to IT departments

CYTOCHROME P450 CYP1B1*2 GENE AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH T2D IN TABUK POPULATION, NORTHWESTERN REGION OF SAUDI ARABIA

Objective: Cytochrome P450 1B1 (CYP1B1) is involved in the activation of procarcinogens and steroid metabolism. Genetic variants of CYP1B1are associated with altered catalytic activity and disease phenotypes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of CYP1B1 (rs1056827) polymorphism in inducing T2D.Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled 113 subjects of T2D and 120 controls. DNA was isolated from blood. Genotyping of the rs1056827 wasdone by allele-specific polymerase chain reaction. The frequency of alleles and genotype distribution was compared in T2D cases and healthy controls.Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS, Chi-square, and Fisher exact test. Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was tested by a χ2 test. The associations between rs1056827 variant genotypes and T2D were estimated by computing the odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) from univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis.Results: A significant association of rs1056827 was found between T2D cases and controls (p<0.0001). When GG genotype was compared with GT genotype a significant association was found with odd ration (OD)0.24 (95% CI: (0.131–0.452) and risk ratio (RR) 0.45 (0.30–0.67) times the risk of T2D heterozygous with the G/T allele (p≤0.0002). In a comparison of GG homozygous with the TT homozygous, there was no significant association with the OD 0.38 (95% CI: (0.02–6.51) RR 0.55(0.13–2.35), p<0.49. When G allele was compared with the T allele a highly significant association with OD 0.54 (95% [CI]: (0.37–0.80) RR 0.75(0.630–0.897) < p≤0.003 suggesting a possible dominant effect of this polymorphism on T2D risk.Conclusion: This result suggests a significant association between rs1056827G>T polymorphism and T2D. This finding is limited due to the smaller sample size and can be validated by large sample size studies

Nanomaterials as Analytical Tools for Genosensors

Nanomaterials are being increasingly used for the development of electrochemical DNA biosensors, due to the unique electrocatalytic properties found in nanoscale materials. They offer excellent prospects for interfacing biological recognition events with electronic signal transduction and for designing a new generation of bioelectronic devices exhibiting novel functions. In particular, nanomaterials such as noble metal nanoparticles (Au, Pt), carbon nanotubes (CNTs), magnetic nanoparticles, quantum dots and metal oxide nanoparticles have been actively investigated for their applications in DNA biosensors, which have become a new interdisciplinary frontier between biological detection and material science. In this article, we address some of the main advances in this field over the past few years, discussing the issues and challenges with the aim of stimulating a broader interest in developing nanomaterial-based biosensors and improving their applications in disease diagnosis and food safety examination

Immunization of Female Mice with a Plasmid DNA Vaccine Coding EightRepeats of Gonadotrophin Releasing Hormone (Gnrh-I) and Eight T-HelperEpitopes Suppress Fertility In Vivo

Induction of an appropriate immune response against gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH-I) disrupt fertility,reduce fecundity and regress tumours of reproductive system.To disrupt fertility a plasmid DNA vaccine wasengineered coding eight repeats of GnRH-I and eight T-helper epitopes. Translation efficiency of the vaccine wasevaluated in undifferentiated COS1 cells and found to release GnRH-I fusion protein in culture supernatant. Swissalbino female mice (N=24) were immunized with 50μg plasmid DNA construct in study weeks 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12.Group 2 mice were primed with the plasmid DNA in hemagglutinating virus of japanese envelope (HVJE) vector andsubsequent boosts were carried out in phosphate buffer saline. Group 3 mice were immunized with the plasmid DNAin non-ionic surfactant vesicles (NISV) and Group 1 was served as untreated control. The effect of immunization wasstudied in terms of anti-GnRH-I antibody response (OD value at A540 ± SD), suppression of ovarian folliculogenesis,altered uterine histoarchitecture and impaired fertility in vivo in mating trials. In study week 24 OD values of anti-GnRH-I antibody response were 0.982 ± 0.231 in Group 3 mice, followed by 0.783 ± 0.191 in Group 2 in comparisonwith no response in Group 1 controls (0.237 ± 0.147). Results of mating trials showed conception failure invaccinated mice; 51, 18 and 05 pups were seen in the uteri of Groups 1, 2 and 3 mice respectively. There wassignificant (p>0.001) reduction in the weight of ovaries in Group 2 (8.50 ± 2.38 mg) and Group 3 (7.25 ± 0.95 mg)mice compared to Group 1 control (15.00 ± 1.41 mg). Significant reduction of ovarian folliculogenesis was seen inGroup 2 (p>0.001) and Group 3 mice (p>0.01). In conclusion, the plasmid DNA vaccine delivered in female micewith HVJE and NISV induced significantly (p>0.001) higher levels of anti-GnRH-I antibody response, suppressedovarian and uterine function and impaired fertility in vivo

Urinary tract infection and their risk factors association in renal transplant recipients

Background: Urinary tract infection (UTI) remains one of the most common and major complications after renal transplantation. Objective: The study was undertaken to get an insight regarding the bacterial pathogen which is responsible for UTI in post renal transplant patients and their risk factors association. Methods: This was an observational study, conducted in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) from December 2010 to December 2011. Twenty- one renal transplant recipients were evaluated for UTl after surgery up to six weeks. Microscopic examination and culture of urine were performed in every pre-transplant period, 3rd POD, 7th POD, within six weeks and as per patient's clinical condition. UTI was considered when bacterial count wa