A multiscale view on inverse statistics and gain/loss asymmetry in financial time series

Researchers have studied the first passage time of financial time series and observed that the smallest time interval needed for a stock index to move a given distance is typically shorter for negative than for positive price movements. The same is not observed for the index constituents, the individual stocks. We use the discrete wavelet transform to illustrate that this is a long rather than short time scale phenomenon -- if enough low frequency content of the price process is removed, the asymmetry disappears. We also propose a new model, which explain the asymmetry by prolonged, correlated down movements of individual stocks

A Focus Group Study about Oral Drug Administration Practices at Hospital Wards-Aspects to Consider in Drug Development of Age-Appropriate Formulations for Children

Oral drug administration to pediatric patients is characterized by a lack of age-appropriate drug products and the off-label use of medicines. However, drug administration practices at hospital wards is a scarcely studied subject. The aim of this study was to explore the oral drug administration practices at pediatric hospital wards, with a focus on experiences and challenges faced, methods used to mitigate existing problems, drug manipulation habits, perceptions about oral dosage forms and future needs of oral dosage forms for children. This was a qualitative study consisting of focus group discussions with physicians, nurses and clinical pharmacists in a tertiary university hospital with the objective of bringing forward a holistic view on this research topic. These healthcare professionals recognized different administration challenges that were classified as either dosage form-related or patient-related ones. A lack of depot formulations developed especially for children as well as oral pediatric dosage forms of drug substances currently available as intravenous dosage forms was recognized. The preferred oral dosage forms were oral liquids and orodispersible tablets. Patient-centered drug administration practices including factors facilitating drug administration both at hospital wards and at home after patient discharge were identified. Among all healthcare professionals, the efficient cooperation in drug prescribing and administration as well as in educating the child's caregivers in correct administration techniques before discharge and improving the overall discharge process of patients was emphasized. This study complements the prevalent understanding that new dosage forms for children of varying ages and stages of development are still needed. It also brings a holistic view on different aspects of oral drug administration to pediatric patients and overall patient-centered drug administration practices.Peer reviewe

Benefits and Prerequisites Associated with the Adoption of Oral 3D-Printed Medicines for Pediatric Patients : A Focus Group Study among Healthcare Professionals

The utilization of three-dimensional (3D) printing technologies as innovative manufacturing methods for drug products has recently gained growing interest. From a technological viewpoint, proof-of-concept on the performance of different printing methods already exist, followed by visions about future applications in hospital or community pharmacies. The main objective of this study was to investigate the perceptions of healthcare professionals in a tertiary university hospital about oral 3D-printed medicines for pediatric patients by means of focus group discussions. In general, the healthcare professionals considered many positive aspects and opportunities in 3D printing of pharmaceuticals. A precise dose as well as personalized doses and dosage forms were some of the advantages mentioned by the participants. Especially in cases of polypharmacy, incorporating several drug substances into one product to produce a polypill, personalized regarding both the combination of drug substances and the doses, would benefit drug treatments of several medical conditions and would improve adherence to medications. In addition to the positive aspects, concerns and prerequisites for the adoption of 3D printing technologies at hospital settings were also expressed. These perspectives are suggested by the authors to be focus points for future research on personalized 3D-printed drug products.Peer reviewe

Challenge of paediatric compounding to solid dosage forms sachets and hard capsules - Finnish perspective

Objectives The study evaluated the quality of compounded sachets and hard gelatine capsules and their feasibility in paediatric drug administration. Methods Commercial tablets were compounded to sachets and capsules in hospital environment, and the uniformity of content and simulated drug dose were determined. Key findings Compounded formulations were successfully obtained for a range of drug substances; dipyridamole, spironolactone, warfarin and sotalol formulations were within acceptable limits for uniformity of content, in most cases. However, some loss of drug was seen. The type and amount of excipients were found to affect uniformity of content; good conformity of capsules was obtained using lactose monohydrate as filler, whereas microcrystalline cellulose was a better choice in sachets. In capsules, content uniformity was obtained for a range of drug doses. If the drug is aimed to be administered through a nasogastric tube, solubility of the drug and excipients should be considered, as they were found to affect the simulated drug dose in administration. Conclusions Compounded sachets and capsules fulfilled the quality requirements in most cases. In compounding, the choice of excipients should be considered as they can affect conformity of the dosage form or its usability in practice. Quality assurance of compounded formulations should be taken into consideration in hospital pharmacies.Peer reviewe

Macroeconomic policy change: Ireland in comparative perspective

This paper sets out to develop an improved framework for examining critical junctures. This a priori framework is a significant improvement over existing critical juncture frameworks that lack any predictive element. It is an advance for historical institutionalism in particular, and political science in general. After the new framework is set out in detail here, it is tested. The framework is used to examine a number of potential critical junctures in macroeconomic policy, drawn from Ireland, Sweden, Britain, and America in the latter half of the twentieth century

The Role of Financial Insecurity and Expectations on Perspectives of Mental Health Services among Refugees

This dissertation examines how perspectives of mental health among refugees are situated within the realities of the refugee resettlement system, a population for which information on this issue is quite limited. Through in-depth interviews and participant observation with Congolese refugees and non-Congolese refugee-serving professionals in a major Florida city, this dissertation examines how perceptions of mental health and mental health services among refugees were affected by financial insecurity and disparities in expectations. Local Congolese refugees expected the American Dream; they believed that once they arrived they would find prosperity through hard work. Instead they experienced frustration and distress because the resettlement services provided to them were only enough to insert them into the bottom of American society, and the limitations of the resettlement system posed barriers to them achieving their plan. Limited formal education and limited knowledge of English comprised an additional layer of distress for many local Congolese as it restricted the types of work they could find. Through the scholarly lenses of control over destiny, critical medical anthropology, and critical race theory, I propose the term systemic expectation discord to describe the role of this disparity in expectations and lack of opportunity on refugee distress, as well as on the prioritization of mental health services in their lives. This dissertation has both theoretical and applied implications in its use of theory from anthropology and public health to better understand the lived experience of local refugees. This dissertation also makes practical recommendations on how to provide mental and emotional support to refugees while circumventing the issues that cause them to de-prioritize mental health services as we know them

The Role of Financial Insecurity and Expectations on Perspectives of Mental Health Services among Refugees

This dissertation examines how perspectives of mental health among refugees are situated within the realities of the refugee resettlement system, a population for which information on this issue is quite limited. Through in-depth interviews and participant observation with Congolese refugees and non-Congolese refugee-serving professionals in a major Florida city, this dissertation examines how perceptions of mental health and mental health services among refugees were affected by financial insecurity and disparities in expectations. Local Congolese refugees expected the American Dream; they believed that once they arrived they would find prosperity through hard work. Instead they experienced frustration and distress because the resettlement services provided to them were only enough to insert them into the bottom of American society, and the limitations of the resettlement system posed barriers to them achieving their plan. Limited formal education and limited knowledge of English comprised an additional layer of distress for many local Congolese as it restricted the types of work they could find. Through the scholarly lenses of control over destiny, critical medical anthropology, and critical race theory, I propose the term systemic expectation discord to describe the role of this disparity in expectations and lack of opportunity on refugee distress, as well as on the prioritization of mental health services in their lives. This dissertation has both theoretical and applied implications in its use of theory from anthropology and public health to better understand the lived experience of local refugees. This dissertation also makes practical recommendations on how to provide mental and emotional support to refugees while circumventing the issues that cause them to de-prioritize mental health services as we know them