Alpha-CIR Model with Branching Processes in Sovereign Interest Rate Modelling

We introduce a class of interest rate models, called the $\alpha$-CIR model, which gives a natural extension of the standard CIR model by adopting the $\alpha$-stable L{\'e}vy process and preserving the branching property. This model allows to describe in a unified and parsimonious way several recent observations on the sovereign bond market such as the persistency of low interest rate together with the presence of large jumps at local extent. We emphasize on a general integral representation of the model by using random fields, with which we establish the link to the CBI processes and the affine models. Finally we analyze the jump behaviors and in particular the large jumps, and we provide numerical illustrations

Image Restoration Using Very Deep Convolutional Encoder-Decoder Networks with Symmetric Skip Connections

In this paper, we propose a very deep fully convolutional encoding-decoding framework for image restoration such as denoising and super-resolution. The network is composed of multiple layers of convolution and de-convolution operators, learning end-to-end mappings from corrupted images to the original ones. The convolutional layers act as the feature extractor, which capture the abstraction of image contents while eliminating noises/corruptions. De-convolutional layers are then used to recover the image details. We propose to symmetrically link convolutional and de-convolutional layers with skip-layer connections, with which the training converges much faster and attains a higher-quality local optimum. First, The skip connections allow the signal to be back-propagated to bottom layers directly, and thus tackles the problem of gradient vanishing, making training deep networks easier and achieving restoration performance gains consequently. Second, these skip connections pass image details from convolutional layers to de-convolutional layers, which is beneficial in recovering the original image. Significantly, with the large capacity, we can handle different levels of noises using a single model. Experimental results show that our network achieves better performance than all previously reported state-of-the-art methods.Comment: Accepted to Proc. Advances in Neural Information Processing Systems (NIPS'16). Content of the final version may be slightly different. Extended version is available at http://arxiv.org/abs/1606.0892

Manometric Measurement of the Sphincter of Oddi in Patients with Common Bile Duct Stones: A Consecutive Study of the Han Population of China

Objective. Role of dysfunction of the sphincter of Oddi (SO) in choledocholithiasis is controversial. This study was to evaluate SO motor activity in patients with common bile duct (CBD) stones in the Han population of China. Patients and Methods. In this study, 76 patients with CBD stones were enrolled in a single tertiary endoscopy center. Data of SO motor activities was prospectively evaluated by endoscopic manometry. Mean basal SO pressure, amplitude, and frequency were collected and analyzed. Results. The mean basal SO pressure, amplitude, and frequency were 52.7±40.0 (1.60–171.1) mmHg, 39.9±19.7 (14.9–115.5) mmHg, and 5.7±3.2 (1.3–13.8)/min, respectively. The basal SO pressure was higher in patients with CBD stones < 10 mm in diameter than that in those with CBD stones larger than 10 mm in diameter (60.7±41.0 mmHg versus 36.8±29.4 mmHg, P=0.043). There was no significant difference in the basal SO pressure, amplitude, and frequency when compared with the CBD diameter, CBD stone number, prior cholecystectomy, periampullary diverticula, and symptoms. Levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate transaminase, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, and alkaline phosphatase showed no significant difference in patients with normal or elevated basal SO pressure. Conclusion. These results identify that, in Chinese Han population, abnormalities of SO motor activity are associated with CBD stones

Rifaximin Exerts Beneficial Effects Independent of its Ability to Alter Microbiota Composition

Rifaximin has clinical benefits in minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) but the mechanism of action is unclear. The antibiotic-dependent and -independent effects of rifaximin need to be elucidated in the setting of MHE-associated microbiota. To assess the action of rifaximin on intestinal barrier, inflammatory milieu and ammonia generation independent of microbiota using rifaximin

Gut microbiota drive the development of neuroinflammatory response in cirrhosis in mice: HEPATOLOGY, VOL. XX, NO. X KANG ET AL.

The mechanisms behind the development of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) are unclear although hyperammonemia and systemic inflammation through gut dysbiosis have been proposed

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Correction to: Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake