The Challenge of Machine Learning in Space Weather Nowcasting and Forecasting

The numerous recent breakthroughs in machine learning (ML) make imperative to carefully ponder how the scientific community can benefit from a technology that, although not necessarily new, is today living its golden age. This Grand Challenge review paper is focused on the present and future role of machine learning in space weather. The purpose is twofold. On one hand, we will discuss previous works that use ML for space weather forecasting, focusing in particular on the few areas that have seen most activity: the forecasting of geomagnetic indices, of relativistic electrons at geosynchronous orbits, of solar flares occurrence, of coronal mass ejection propagation time, and of solar wind speed. On the other hand, this paper serves as a gentle introduction to the field of machine learning tailored to the space weather community and as a pointer to a number of open challenges that we believe the community should undertake in the next decade. The recurring themes throughout the review are the need to shift our forecasting paradigm to a probabilistic approach focused on the reliable assessment of uncertainties, and the combination of physics-based and machine learning approaches, known as gray-box.Comment: under revie

Two-body quantum mechanical problem on spheres

The quantum mechanical two-body problem with a central interaction on the sphere ${\bf S}^{n}$ is considered. Using recent results in representation theory an ordinary differential equation for some energy levels is found. For several interactive potentials these energy levels are calculated in explicit form.Comment: 41 pages, no figures, typos corrected; appendix D was adde

"I am not a priority": ethnic minority experiences of navigating mental health support and the need for culturally sensitive services during and beyond the pandemic

\ua9 Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2025. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ Group. BACKGROUND: Existing health inequalities and the lack of timely and appropriate support have long been a reality for many ethnic minority individuals living with mental health conditions, even before the pandemic. Limited access to services and the absence of culturally or religiously embedded care have led to increased severity of mental health problems. OBJECTIVE: To explore the complexity of interactions between ethnic minorities and mental health services and their experiences of seeking and receiving mental health support throughout the pandemic. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews with purposive and snowball sampling of ethnic minorities aged over 18 (n=32) across North East and North West in England were analysed using a framework approach. FINDINGS: Five themes were generated. Cultural stigma attached to mental health could lead to fear and reluctance to seek support. Individuals struggled to engage with non-culturally sensitive health services. Instead, they indicated a strong preference for wider community support, which continued through the pandemic despite interrupted health services. A collaboration between mental health services and ethnic minority communities was advocated to shape services to cultural contexts and improve patient-centred service delivery. CONCLUSIONS: Ethnic minorities with mental health face significant challenges and disparities in seeking and engaging in mental health services. They often seek support from multicultural community settings even though the support is not specifically targeted at addressing mental health issues. Understanding cultural beliefs, religious influences and family and community structures are necessary components of culturally appropriate care. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Culturally sensitive mental health services need to be integrated into existing systems through initiating collaborations with ethnic minority communities that tailor services to meet the needs of diverse populations, improving overall engagement and experiences

Observation of an Excited Bc+ State

Using pp collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 8.5 fb-1 recorded by the LHCb experiment at center-of-mass energies of s=7, 8, and 13 TeV, the observation of an excited Bc+ state in the Bc+π+π- invariant-mass spectrum is reported. The observed peak has a mass of 6841.2±0.6(stat)±0.1(syst)±0.8(Bc+) MeV/c2, where the last uncertainty is due to the limited knowledge of the Bc+ mass. It is consistent with expectations of the Bc∗(2S31)+ state reconstructed without the low-energy photon from the Bc∗(1S31)+→Bc+γ decay following Bc∗(2S31)+→Bc∗(1S31)+π+π-. A second state is seen with a global (local) statistical significance of 2.2σ (3.2σ) and a mass of 6872.1±1.3(stat)±0.1(syst)±0.8(Bc+) MeV/c2, and is consistent with the Bc(2S10)+ state. These mass measurements are the most precise to date

Measurement of the inelastic pp cross-section at a centre-of-mass energy of 13TeV

The cross-section for inelastic proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13TeV is measured with the LHCb detector. The fiducial cross-section for inelastic interactions producing at least one prompt long-lived charged particle with momentum p > 2 GeV/c in the pseudorapidity range 2 < η < 5 is determined to be ϭ acc = 62:2 ± 0:2 ± 2:5mb. The first uncertainty is the intrinsic systematic uncertainty of the measurement, the second is due to the uncertainty on the integrated luminosity. The statistical uncertainty is negligible. Extrapolation to full phase space yields the total inelastic proton-proton cross-section ϭ inel = 75:4 ± 3:0 ± 4:5mb, where the first uncertainty is experimental and the second due to the extrapolation. An updated value of the inelastic cross-section at a centre-of-mass energy of 7TeV is also reported

Вивчення динаміки накопичення флавоноїдів у пагонах карагани дерев’янистої

Topicality. The importance of search and drugs development for the treatment of the hepatobiliary system diseases is determined by their significant proportion among the digestive system diseases. The Siberian pea tree shoots possessing hepatoprotective, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects in the experiment can be used for such preparations development. Flavonoids represent one of the main groups of biologically active compounds of the plant. Therefore, the total flavonoid content can be used as a quality criterion for this raw material standardization.Aim. To determine the dynamic accumulation of flavonoids in the Siberian pea tree shoots (Cormus Caraganae arborescentis).Materials and methods. The object of study is the Siberian pea tree shoots harvested during different periods of the plant vegetation from April to August 2018 and 2019 in Kharkiv and Nikolayev regions. A differential spectrophotometry method based on complex formation with aluminum chloride has been used to determine the content of flavonoids in the raw material. Rutin has been used as a standard sample because it prevails among other flavonoids of the Siberian pea tree. The spectra has been recorded using a “Specord 200” spectrophotometer.Results and discussion. The dynamic accumulation of flavonoids during the vegetation stages of the Siberian pea tree shoots has been studied. The period of mass flowering of the plant was determined as the optimal harvest time.Conclusions. A methodology for determining the total flavonoid content in the Siberian pea tree shoots has been developed, the optimal harvest term has been established. The results are planned to be used for the standardization of raw materials and herbal preparations of the Siberian pea tree.Актуальность. Актуальность поиска и создания лекарственных препаратов, предназначенных для лечения поражений гепатобилиарной системы, определяется тем, что эти заболевания имеют большой удельный вес в патологии системы пищеварения. Для создания таких лекарственных средств могут быть использованы побеги караганы древовидной, которые в эксперименте проявили гепатопротекторное, антиоксидантное и противовоспалительное действие. Одна из основных групп действующих веществ растения – флавоноиды, поэтому для стандартизации сырья критерием качества может служить числовой показатель – «содержание суммы флавоноидов».Цель работы – исследование динамики накопления флавоноидов в побегах караганы древовидной (Cormus Caraganae arborescentis).Материалы и методы. Объект исследования – побеги караганы древовидной, заготовленные в разные периоды вегетации растения с апреля по август 2018 и 2019 годов в Харьковской и Николаевской областях. Содержание флавоноидов в сырье определяли методом дифференциальной спектрофотометрии на основе реакции образования комплекса с алюминия хлоридом. В качестве стандартного образца использовали рутин, преобладающий среди других флавоноидов растения. Регистрацию спектров проводили с помощью спектрофотометра «Specord 200».Результаты и их обсуждение. Изучена динамика накопления флавоноидов в побегах караганы древовидной по фазам вегетации, определены оптимальные сроки заготовки сырья – период массового цветения растения.Выводы. Разработана методика определения содержания флавоноидов в побегах караганы древовидной, установлены оптимальные сроки их заготовки, полученные результаты будут использованы для стандартизации исследуемого сырья и фитопрепаратов на его основе.Актуальність. Актуальність пошуку та створення лікарських препаратів, призначених для лікування уражень гепатобіліарної системи, визначаються тим, що ці захворювання мають велику питому вагу у патології системи травлення. Для створення таких лікарських засобів можуть бути використані пагони карагани дерев’янистої, які в експерименті чинили гепатопротекторну, антиоксидантну та протизапальну дію. Одна з основних груп діючих речовин рослини – флавоноїди, тому для стандартизації сировини критерієм якості може слугувати числовий показник – «вміст суми флавоноїдів».Мета роботи – дослідження динаміки накопичення флавоноїдів у пагонах карагани дерев’янистої (Cormus Caraganae arborescentis).Матеріали та методи. Об’єкт дослідження – пагони карагани дерев’янистої, які заготовляли у різні фази вегетації рослини з квітня по серпень 2018 та 2019 років у Харківській та Миколаївській областях. Вміст флавоноїдів у сировині визначали методом диференціальної спектрофотометрії на основі реакції утворення комплексу з алюмінію хлоридом. Як стандартний зразок використовували рутин, який у кількісному відношенні переважає інші флавоноїди рослини. Реєстрацію спектрів проводили за допомогою спектрофотометра «Specord 200».Результати та їх обговорення. Вивчена динаміка накопичення флавоноїдів у пагонах карагани дерев’янистої за фазами вегетації. Визначені оптимальні терміни заготівлі сировини – період масового цвітіння рослини.Висновки. Розроблена методика визначення вмісту флавоноїдів у пагонах карагани дерев’янистої, встановлені оптимальні терміни їх заготівлі, отримані результати будуть використані для стандартизації досліджуваноїсировини та фітопрепаратів на її основі.

Rare earth elements materials production from apatite ores

The paper deals with the study of processing apatite ores with nitric acid and extraction of the rare earth elements. The rare earth elements can be successfully separated and recovered by extraction from the nitrate- phosphate solution, being an tributyl phosphate as extraction agent. The developed scheme of the processing apatite concentrate provides obtaining rare earth concentrates with high qualitative characteristics