A note on first passage probabilities of a L\'evy process reflected at a general barrier

In this paper we analyze a L\'evy process reflected at a general (possibly random) barrier. For this process we prove Central Limit Theorem for the first passage time. We also give the finite-time first passage probability asymptotics

Trzy historie jednej Słowacji : o polskim piśmiennictwie okresu międzywojennego na temat sytuacji Słowaków w obliczu upadku monarchii habsburskiej

Celem niniejszego artykułu jest ukazanie stosunku polskiego piśmiennictwa okresu międzywojennego (publicystyki, historiografii) wobec roli Słowaków w dziele budowy I Republiki Czechosłowackiej oraz ich sytuacji we wspólnym z Czechami państwie. Zebrany materiał podzielono zasadniczo na trzy nurty: filowęgierski, filoczeski (filoczechosłowacki), filosłowacki, ale zwrócono także uwagę na zainteresowania Słowacją w ramach prowadzonych w II RP badań słowianoznawczych. Omawiane w niniejszym artykule prace starały się porównać położenie Słowaków pod panowaniem węgierskim oraz w czasach czechosłowackich, odpowiedzieć na pytanie o to czy istnieje naród czechosłowacki, w końcu wskazać, z kim państwo polskie powinno wiązać swoją przyszłość na arenie międzynarodowej (wspierać aspiracje Węgier do odzyskania Słowacji, ułożyć poprawne stosunki z Pragą, czy może wspierać narodowy ruch słowacki przeciwko Czechom)

Effects of NAO on the climatic water budget at the Polish southern Baltic coast

Abstract: Effects of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) on the Standardized Precipitation-Evaporation Index (SPEI), a metric of the climate-dependent water budget, in the Polish part of the southern Baltic coastal areas were analysed. The analyses were based on monthly NAO index values calculated by P.D. Jones, T. Jonsson, and D. Wheeler for 1951-2010 and on monthly temperatures and sums of precipitation in Szczecin, Ustka, and Elbląg used to calculate SPEI.No strong effects of NAO on the water budget could be demonstrated. Intensified air mass advection from the west was found to slightly reduce SPEI in the Polish coastal zone. In winter (particularly in February), the reduction was caused by the temperature increase during air mass advection from the west, which increases evaporation. In summer (mainly in August), the effect was due to the decreased sum of precipitation, the reduction, however, not being significant. Therefore, NAO effects on the water budget are considered weak and irregular

Contemporary Musical Settings of Beowulf

The centuries-old Beowulf continues to inspire contemporary culture through a variety of adaptations and reinterpretations. Through its continual presence in the cultural memory, the poem has also made its way into music. The aim of this paper is to survey four contemporary musical settings of Beowulf, i.e. compositions which set the words of the poem in Old English or a PresentDay English translation of the poem. The importance of this overview lies in the documentation of a phenomenon present in contemporary music: the practice of setting Old English texts to music. However, the focus of this article are settings of Beowulf in order to narrow down the discussion. The settings span from 1925 to the present, and are the following: Howard Hanson’s “The Lament for Beowulf” (1925), Ezequiel Viñao’s “Beowulf: Scyld’s Burial” (2009), Cheryl Frances-Hoad’s “Beowulf” (2010), and Benjamin Bagby’s reconstructed performances of the poem (1987-). A brief discussion of the concept of cultural memory and (re)interpretation precedes the analyses of the musical settings. Each setting is examined separately; however, points of comparison are also noted and discussed. Moreover, each setting is analysed in an individual manner depending on the settings’ key elements: the fragment of set text, the ideas, moods, techniques, tones, and rhythms which form the piece. Contemporary approaches to Beowulf vary greatly. Even in the common medium of musical setting, the way in which the composers tell the story differs in choice of form, technique, instrumentation, and overall atmosphere. However, these are all settings of the same story which has persisted throughout the ages, and it is worth recording the contemporary perceptions of Beowulf—so as to sharpen the historical sense of the pastness of the past and its presence

SEASONAL VARIABILITY OF CLIMATIC CONDITIONS FOR TOURISM AND RECREATION ALONG THE SOUTHERN COAST OF THE BALTIC SEA

This paper aims to indicate the periods within the year that are most and least suited to outdoor recreation along the southern coast of the Baltic Sea. The author indicates these periods based on the analysis of annual variability of several meteorological and bioclimatic parameters from the years 1981–2010 in Greifswald and Świnoujście, and from 1985 to 2010 in Hel and Gdynia. Passive recreation is favoured in July and the first half of August. The whole of the summer season has the most favourable conditions for active recreation. Good conditions frequently occur in May, and to a lesser degree in September. The advantages of May are that it has the highest sunshine duration and the lowest frequency of precipitation

Persuasion, politeness and relational models

Politeness Theory, just like Grice’s Cooperative Principle, points out that pragmatic analysis of language behaviour has to be grounded in extra-linguistic facts of social (or even biological) nature. Additionally, despite the slightly misleading label, Politeness Theory provides a sound methodology to explain some persuasive as well as politeness phenomena. In the same vein, the so called Relational Model Theory provides another theoretical framework for the explanation of persuasive phenomena and persuasive language. Both Relational Model Theory and Politeness Theory show that persuasion is also to be understood as a rational response to not-so-rational social and biological needs. In the article an attempt is made to compare the two theories focusing on their explanatory power in reference to language choices aiming at enhancing the persuasive potential of a language message