def the_H_function(sorted_citations_list, n=1):
    """from a list of integers [n1, n2 ..] representing publications citations,
    return the max list-position which is >= integer

    eg
    >>> the_H_function([10, 8, 5, 4, 3]) => 4
    >>> the_H_function([25, 8, 5, 3, 3]) => 3
    >>> the_H_function([1000, 20]) => 2
    """
    if sorted_citations_list and sorted_citations_list[0] >= n:
        return the_H_function(sorted_citations_list[1:], n + 1)
    else:
        return n - 1