The Shark Random Swim (L\'evy flight with memory)

The Elephant Random Walk (ERW), first introduced by Sch\"utz and Trimper (2004), is a one-dimensional simple random walk on $\mathbb{Z}$ having a memory about the whole past. We study the Shark Random Swim, a random walk whose steps are $\alpha$-stable distributed with memory about the whole past. In contrast with the ERW, the steps of the Shark Random Swim have a heavy tailed distribution. Our aim in this work is to study the impact of the heavy tailed step distributions on the asymptotic behavior of the random walk. We shall see that, as for the ERW, the asymptotic behavior of the Shark Random Swim depends on its memory parameter $p$, and that a phase transition can be observed at the critical value $p=\frac{1}{\alpha}$.Comment: Added an extension to convergence of the finite dimensional distributions and corrected a mistake in Lemma 1

Joint Air Sea Interaction (JASIN) experiment, Northwest coast of Scotland

The joint air sea interaction (JASIN) experiment took place off the Northwest coast of Scotland. Sea surface and boundary layer parameters were measured. The JASIN data was used as ground truth for various sensors on the SEASAT satellite

Polar mesoscale cyclones in the northeast Atlantic: Comparing climatologies from ERA-40 and satellite imagery

Polar mesoscale cyclones over the subarctic are thought to be an important component of the coupled atmosphere–ocean climate system. However, the relatively small scale of these features presents some concern as to their representation in the meteorological reanalysis datasets that are commonly used to drive ocean models. Here polar mesocyclones are detected in the 40-Year European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Re-Analysis dataset (ERA-40) in mean sea level pressure and 500-hPa geopotential height, using an automated cyclone detection algorithm. The results are compared to polar mesocyclones detected in satellite imagery over the northeast Atlantic, for the period October 1993–September 1995. Similar trends in monthly cyclone numbers and a similar spatial distribution are found. However, there is a bias in the size of cyclones detected in the reanalysis. Up to 80% of cyclones larger than 500 km are detected in MSL pressure, but this hit rate decreases, approximately linearly, to ∼40% for 250-km-scale cyclones and to ∼20% for 100-km-scale cyclones. Consequently a substantial component of the associated air–sea fluxes may be missing from the reanalysis, presenting a serious shortcoming when using such reanalysis data for ocean modeling simulations. Eight maxima in cyclone density are apparent in the mean sea level pressure, clustered around synoptic observing stations in the northeast Atlantic. They are likely spurious, and a result of unidentified shortcomings in the ERA-40 data assimilation procedure

Understanding the Mental Health Needs and Technological Treatment Implications for Vulnerable Youth: A Focus Group with Practitioners

Although all youth witnessed the extreme shift in exposure to negative risks and experiences over the past century, a particular category of youth witnesses the impacts at a higher rate. This category is vulnerable youth, and includes youth who are homeless, maltreated, in foster care, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and/or questioning (LGBTQ+) or Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC). Vulnerable youth disproportionately experience mental health and wellbeing challenges. Literature shows that practitioners working with this population have a critical role in mitigating those challenges through technological services and resources. To explore these challenges and technological treatment implications, a total of six practitioners completed a virtual focus group. Transcripts were analyzed using content analysis. Participants shared challenges vulnerable youth face to meet basic, social and emotional, educational, technological and mental health needs. They reported limitations to in-person mental health services. Technology use, specifically applications (apps), can provide support to vulnerable youth and address the perceived challenges to meet various needs. More research is required to understand vulnerable youth's mental health and wellbeing and best practices for utilizing technology into youth mental health services.No embargoAcademic Major: Social Wor

An Analysis of Four-quark Energies in SU(2) Lattice Monte Carlo using the Flux-tube Symmetry:

Energies of four-quark systems calculated by the static quenched SU(2) lattice Monte Carlo method are analyzed in $2\times 2$ bases for square, rectangle, tilted rectangle, linear and quadrilateral geometry configurations and in $3\times 3$ bases for a non-planar geometry configuration. For small interquark distances, a lattice effect is taken into account by considering perimeter dependent terms which are characterized by the cubic symmetry. It is then found that a parameter $f$ - that can be identified as a gluon field overlap factor - is rather well described by the form $exp(-[b_sE{\cal A}+\sqrt{b_s}F{\cal P}])$, where ${\cal A}$ and ${\cal P}$ are the area and perimeter mainly defined by the positions of the four quarks, $b_s$ is the string constant in the 2-quark potentials and $E,F$ are constants.Comment: (19 pages of Latex - 1 page of figures not included - sent on request). Preprint HU-TFT-94-2

Visit complexity, diagnostic uncertainty, and antibiotic prescribing for acute cough in primary care: a retrospective study

Background: Guidelines and performance measures recommend avoiding antibiotics for acute cough/acute bronchitis and presume visits are straightforward with simple diagnostic decision-making. We evaluated clinician-assigned diagnoses, diagnostic uncertainty, and antibiotic prescribing for acute cough visits in primary care. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of acute cough visits – cough lasting ≤21 days in adults 18–64 years old without chronic lung disease – in a primary care practice from March 2011 through June 2012. Results: Of 56,301 visits, 962 (2%) were for acute cough. Clinicians diagnosed patients with 1, 2, or ≥ 3 cough-related diagnoses in 54%, 35%, and 11% of visits, respectively. The most common principal diagnoses were upper respiratory infection (46%), sinusitis (10%), acute bronchitis (9%), and pneumonia (8%). Clinicians prescribed antibiotics in 22% of all visits: 65% of visits with antibiotic-appropriate diagnoses and 4% of visits with non-antibiotic-appropriate diagnoses. Clinicians expressed diagnostic uncertainty in 16% of all visits: 43% of visits with antibiotic-appropriate diagnoses and 5% of visits with non-antibiotic-appropriate diagnoses. Clinicians expressed uncertainty more often when prescribing antibiotics than when not prescribing antibiotics (30% vs. 12%; p < 0.001). As the number of visit diagnoses increased from 1 to 2 to ≥ 3, clinicians were more likely to express diagnostic uncertainty (5%, 25%, 40%, respectively; p < 0.001) and prescribe antibiotics (16%, 25%, 41%, respectively; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Acute cough may be more complex and have more diagnostic uncertainty than guidelines and performance measures presume. Efforts to reduce antibiotic prescribing for acute cough should address diagnostic complexity and uncertainty that clinicians face

Mechanical bowel preparation and antimicrobial prophylaxis in elective colorectal surgery in Switzerland—a survey

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the use of mechanical bowel preparation (MBP) and antimicrobial prophylaxis in elective colorectal surgery in Switzerland. Methods: Ninety-eight heads of surgical departments in Switzerland and 42 visceral surgeons in private practice were asked to answer an 18-item questionnaire in October 2008 about arguments in favor of or against MBP. The participants also indicated whether they use MBP and antimicrobial prophylaxis in colorectal surgery, and if so, what agents were used. Of the participants, 117/140 (83%) responded. Additional data were collected pertaining to the respondents' experience and work situation. Results: MBP was used significantly more often for rectal surgery than for left colonic resections (83% vs. 53%; p < 0.001) and more often for left than for right colonic resections (53% vs. 43%; p = 0.001), regardless of the open or laparoscopic approach. Younger surgeons and surgeons with a higher case load in colorectal surgery used MBP significantly less frequently in open right colonic resections. For MBP, cathartics were used in 90% of patients, and enemas were used in 10% of patients. Of the respondents, 37% considered MBP to be useful, even very useful. Based on the literature, because of introduction of fast-track protocols or for considerations of patient comfort, 86% of the respondents had changed the bowel preparation regime during the last 10years in terms of a reduction of the quantity of cathartics or restricted the indications for MBP. Antimicrobial prophylaxis was used by 100% of the respondents, 88% used a single prophylactic dose only, while 70% administered the antibiotics 30-59min before the incision. Most of the surgeons used second-generation cephalosporins in combination with metronidazole, and 24% changed the antibiotic agent or reduced the duration of administration of antibiotics during the last 10years. Conclusions: MBP is often used in open and laparoscopic rectal surgery, but not in right colonic resections. Scientific evidence regarding MBP has yielded a rethinking about rigorous bowel preparation regimes. As of now, surgeons in Switzerland are not yet unanimously ready to abandon MBP in elective colorectal surgery. In Switzerland, surgeons are influenced by the benefit of antimicrobial prophylaxis in colorectal surger

Primary care clinicians’ perceptions about antibiotic prescribing for acute bronchitis: a qualitative study

Background: Clinicians prescribe antibiotics to over 65% of adults with acute bronchitis despite guidelines stating that antibiotics are not indicated. Methods: To identify and understand primary care clinician perceptions about antibiotic prescribing for acute bronchitis, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 13 primary care clinicians in Boston, Massachusetts and used thematic content analysis. Results: All the participants agreed with guidelines that antibiotics are not indicated for acute bronchitis and felt that clinicians other than themselves were responsible for overprescribing. Barriers to guideline adherence included 6 themes: (1) perceived patient demand, which was the main barrier, although some clinicians perceived a recent decrease; (2) lack of accountability for antibiotic prescribing; (3) saving time and money; (4) other clinicians’ misconceptions about acute bronchitis; (5) diagnostic uncertainty; and (6) clinician dissatisfaction in failing to meet patient expectations. Strategies to decrease inappropriate antibiotic prescribing included 5 themes: (1) patient educational materials; (2) quality reporting; (3) clinical decision support; (4) use of an over-the-counter prescription pad; and (5) pre-visit triage and education by nurses to prevent visits. Conclusions: Clinicians continued to cite patient demand as the main reason for antibiotic prescribing for acute bronchitis, though some clinicians perceived a recent decrease. Clinicians felt that other clinicians were responsible for inappropriate antibiotic prescribing and that better pre-visit triage by nurses could prevent visits and change patients’ expectations. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12875-014-0194-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Urban-rural air humidity differences in Szeged, Hungary

Measurements of vapour pressure, taken four times a day over a 3-year period, were used to investigate the urban influence on diurnal and annual patterns of vapour pressure differences. The examined settlement is a medium-sized city without significant relief in the Great Hungarian Plain. Its regional climate is continental with a long warm season. On the basis of the results, the air in the city centre is more humid than in the rural area both by day and at night for the duration of the whole year. The diurnal pattern shows that the urban excess has its minimum at 01:00 h and its maximum at 19:00 h in the summer months, but similar regular diurnal variation does not exist during the rest of the year. The annual patterns show that the excess increases from January–February to August and then decreases until November–December at each observation time. The differences and variations of urban humidity excess can be explained by different moisture sources and by different energy balances in the urban and rural environments. Unambiguous relationships exist between the variations of urban humidity excess and a regional aridity index, between the variations of humidity excess and the water temperature of the River Tisza crossing the city, as well as between the variations of humidity excess and maximum heat island intensity. The role of combustion processes is also significant, especially in the colder half of the year