Information network modeling for U.S. banking systemic risk

In this work we investigate whether information theory measures like mutual information and transfer entropy, extracted from a bank network, Granger cause financial stress indexes like LIBOR-OIS (London Interbank Offered Rate-Overnight Index Swap) spread, STLFSI (St. Louis Fed Financial Stress Index) and USD/CHF (USA Dollar/Swiss Franc) exchange rate. The information theory measures are extracted from a Gaussian Graphical Model constructed from daily stock time series of the top 74 listed US banks. The graphical model is calculated with a recently developed algorithm (LoGo) which provides very fast inference model that allows us to update the graphical model each market day. We therefore can generate daily time series of mutual information and transfer entropy for each bank of the network. The Granger causality between the bank related measures and the financial stress indexes is investigated with both standard Granger-causality and Partial Granger-causality conditioned on control measures representative of the general economy conditions

Scalar Matter Coupled to Quantum Gravity in the Causal Approach: Finite One-Loop Calculations and Perturbative Gauge Invariance

Quantum gravity coupled to scalar massive matter fields is investigated within the framework of causal perturbation theory. One-loop calculations include matter loop graviton self-energy and matter self-energy and yield ultraviolet finite and cutoff-free expressions. Perturbative gauge invariance to second order implies the usual Slavnov-Ward identities for the graviton self-energy in the loop graph sector and generates the correct quartic graviton-matter interaction in the tree graph sector. The mass zero case is also discussed.Comment: 37 pages, latex, no figures, some typos corrected, section 3 modifie

A 20-year survey of tinea faciei

Tinea faciei is an uncommon dermatophytosis affecting the glabrous skin of the face. Between 1988 and 2007 at the Dermatology Department of Cagliari University, 107 cases of tinea faciei have been diagnosed, involving 72 females and 35 males, aged 2-72 years. Incidence peaks were observed between 6 and 15 years (48.59%) and between 36 and 45 years (17.76%). Males below and females above 15 years of age were the most affected. In 61 patients (57.1%), typical forms of tinea faciei were observed, whereas in 46 (42.9%), atypical forms were observed, mainly mimicking discoid lupus erythematosus (nine cases), and polymorphous light eruption (eight cases). Typical cases were present in younger patients, aged between 2 and 15 years, while atypical forms were distributed in any of the decades, but mostly between 36 and 72 years. Of the 46 cases of atypical presentation, 33 were females. The isolated dermatophytes were Microsporum canis (63 cases), Trichophyton rubrum (24 cases) and T. mentagrophytes var. mentagrophytes (20 cases). Seven males and two females aged 4-10 years were also affected by tinea capitis and eight patients (three males and five females) of various ages by tinea corporis. Eleven patients (two males and nine females) aged >35 years were affected by onychomycosis. All patients recovered after local and/or systemic antifungal therapy, without relapse or side effects

Two cases of primary endonasal leishmaniasis in Sardinia (Italy)

Leishmaniasis is an endemic protozoan infection in Sardinia, one of the major islands of the Mediterranean Basin. We report two cases of endonasal primary Leishmaniasis, which is a very rare event in adult men who are immunocompetent, born in, and residents of Sardinia. The diagnosis was confirmed by the presence of intra and extracellular Leishmania amastigotes in the histological smear. Isoenzymatic characterization identified Leishmania infantum zymodeme MON-111 in both cases. Laboratory and instrumental investigations excluded visceral involvement. Treatment with meglumine antimoniate (Glucantim®) intralesional administration, 1ml weekly for 4-5 weeks, led to complete resolution. The unusual location is likely a reflection an uncommon site of inoculation of the protozoa, transmitted by flying vectors. The patients were a shepherd and a farmer, respectively, both professions at high risk of infection because of their habits of sleeping outdoors under trees or in country cottages during spring and summer and exposed to sand fly bites. Although mucosal involvement and infection by Leishmania infantum, a potential cause of visceral leishmaniasis, the Sardinian patients experienced a benign disease course considering mucocutaneous forms described in the New World. Differential diagnosis and early detection are necessary in order to start effective treatment and prevent more serious complications

Information Network Modeling for U.S. Banking Systemic Risk

In this work we investigate whether information theory measures like mutual information and transfer entropy, extracted from a bank network, Granger cause financial stress indexes like LIBOR-OIS (London Interbank Offered Rate-Overnight Index Swap) spread, STLFSI (St. Louis Fed Financial Stress Index) and USD/CHF (USA Dollar/Swiss Franc) exchange rate. The information theory measures are extracted from a Gaussian Graphical Model constructed from daily stock time series of the top 74 listed US banks. The graphical model is calculated with a recently developed algorithm (LoGo) which provides very fast inference model that allows us to update the graphical model each market day. We therefore can generate daily time series of mutual information and transfer entropy for each bank of the network. The Granger causality between the bank related measures and the financial stress indexes is investigated with both standard Granger-causality and Partial Granger-causality conditioned on control measures representative of the general economy conditions

Mycological examination

Mycological examination is the diagnostic procedure necessary to confirm a fungal disease, from the Greek word “mykes” meaning mushroom. The mycological test is also necessary to document the complete cure response to treatment, as clinical recovery is often followed by a relapse if the fungus has not been completely eliminated from the skin (mycological cure). The diagnosis of a fungal infection is considered simple from a clinical point of view, but the report of unusual presentations, misdiagnosed or sometimes neglected, has increased worldwide causing extensive and long-standing disease. General immunosuppressive treatment for inflammatory chronic diseases and acquired immune depression syndrome are frequently complicated with fungal superinfections, both from common strain and rare or opportunistic fungal species, such as cryptococcosis, histoplasmosis, sporotrichosis, blastomycosis, and aspergillosis. In the immunocompetent patient, dermatophytes are the main fungal infection, being the primary pathogen. Clinical presentation has also changed with time, from the classic ringworm appearance (tinea) to more veiled eczematous undefined patches, simulating more frequent diseases, such as atopic or contact eczema, seborrheic dermatitis, impetigo, rosacea, and lupus erythematosus. A general common attitude to prescribe combination treatments and/or corticosteroid topics before confirming the diagnosis (“ex adjuvantibus”) is one of the possible causes of further dermatophyte pathomorphosis and misdiagnosis, named tinea incognita or tinea atypica