The air quality within urban public transport is a critical determinant of passenger health. In the crowded and poorly ventilated cabins of Almaty’s metro, buses, and trolleybuses, concentrations of CO2 and PM2.5 often accumulate, elevating the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. This study investigates the air quality along three of the city’s busiest transport corridors, analyzing how the concentrations of CO2, PM2.5, and PM10, as well as the temperature and relative humidity, fluctuate with the passenger density and time of day. Continuous measurements were collected using the Tynys mobile IoT device, which was bench-calibrated against a commercial reference sensor. Several machine learning models (logistic regression, decision tree, XGBoost, and random forest) were trained on synchronized environmental and occupancy data, with the XGBoost model achieving the highest predictive accuracy at 91.25%. Our analysis confirms that passenger occupancy is the primary driver of in-cabin pollution and that these machine learning models effectively capture the nonlinear relationships among environmental variables. Since the surveyed routes serve Almaty’s most densely populated districts, improving the ventilation on these lines is of immediate importance to public health. Furthermore, the high-temporal-resolution data revealed short-term pollution spikes that correspond with peak ridership, advancing the current understanding of exposure risks in transit. These findings highlight the urgent need to combine real-time monitoring with ventilation upgrades. They also demonstrate the practical value of using low-cost IoT technologies and data-driven analytics to safeguard public health in urban mobility systems. © 2025 by the authors.

Achieving solar-to-hydrogen (STH) conversion efficiencies above 10 % is within reach with silicon carbide (SiC), a wide-bandgap semiconductor offering unique properties for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. This review integrates recent advances in novel van der Waals heterostructure designs, Janus-based SiC composites, and eco-friendly synthesis routes to improve efficiency and scalability. In addition, it provides a systematic correlation of density functional theory (DFT) predictions with experimental performance metrics, highlighting critical gaps and optimization pathways. Additionally, comprehensive modeling of electronic structures, band alignments, and surface reactions to optimize SiC-based configurations, including type-II heterojunctions with materials such as MoS2 and TiO2. Key performance metrics, such as photocurrent density and STH efficiencies, are evaluated alongside experimental advancements. Despite significant progress, challenges such as long-term photoelectrode stability, scalable fabrication, and cost reduction persist. We discuss strategies to address these issues, including eco-friendly etching techniques and novel material combinations, and propose future research directions. This review highlights that SiC-based tandem systems achieve STH efficiencies up to 6.3 % and stability exceeding 100 days, with DFT modeling suggesting potential beyond 10 % © 2025 The Authors

The exceptional mechanical and chemical properties exhibited by scandium, characterized by its low density, high strength, and remarkable resistance to corrosion, have positioned it as a sought-after metal in diverse industrial applications. Consequently, a surge in market demand for scandium has been observed, highlighting its unique attributes compared to other metals. The Republic of Kazakhstan has identified potential sources of scandium in the waste generated by the titanium, uranium, and aluminum industries. By implementing efficient processing techniques for these production wastes, the country can effectively address the deficit of scandium while also mitigating man-made emissions, thus significantly improving the environmental landscape. This article aims to explore and evaluate contemporary methodologies that have been employed for the recovery of scandium from the aforementioned secondary sources. By examining and analyzing these techniques, we can gain insights into the most effective and sustainable approaches to harnessing scandium from waste materials in Kazakhstan. This research not only contributes to meeting market demands but also ensures the responsible utilization of scandium, benefiting not just the country's economy but also its environmental sustainability. © 2024, Complex Use of Mineral Resources. All rights reserved.

Kazakhstan is embarking on a fresh approach to managing waste, aiming to recycle and repurpose solid household waste while integrating innovative, eco-friendly technologies for its treatment and disposal. The main goal is to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills and instead convert it into more stable forms, lessening its harmful impact on the environment. This effort requires a comprehensive strategy, especially as existing landfills still need to be managed and rehabilitated when they reach capacity. It is essential to use municipal solid waste as a resource for producing various goods, which not only helps in landfill management but also aligns with principles of sustainability. This approach aligns with circular economic principles and helps to reduce the technological impact of landfills on the surrounding environment. The main types of waste in the Aktas landfill were identified as a result of this research: it is glass, of which only 3% is recycled. In our results, the setup allowed for the extraction of valuable components from the fine fraction, which can then be recycled. This enriches the organic material ready for composting (organo-mineral raw material mixture) with food waste. © 2024 by the authors.

Geothermal energy resources, as well as other types of renewable sources of energy, have the ability to satisfy almost any consumer in terms of potential and quality of energy. The utilization of geothermal sources is always based on a geological study. In order to determine whether a particular location has the potential to supply geothermal heat for industrial and domestic needs, a preliminary search is required. This feature is one of the main differences between geothermal energy and other renewable energy sources. Prospecting and exploration for geothermal groundwater was carried out in the Zharkent basin area in order to assess the exploitable reserves of thermal groundwater. On the territory of Zharkent geothermal field there are several wells, which are of interest for use as a source of energy. Two promising geothermal wells were identified ― No. 1RT and 3T, for which research was conducted. © 2023, National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan. All rights reserved.

Mathematical simulation of temperature distribution on double-sided solar cells has been carried out. Differences in the configuration of photoelectric converters prove to solely amount to the fact that a double-sided solar cell has a more efficient heat sink at the rear side. Furthermore double-sided solar cells exhibit higher power conversion performance. Calculations confirm the correctness of giving preference to double-sided solar cells which is of great importance for the photoelectric converter design developed by us. Analysis of market-available photovoltaic technologies of solar energy to electric power conversion has led to the development of a photovoltaic converter on the basis of double-sided silicon heterojunction solar cells. The configuration developed is a moving platform having a photovoltaic cell array mounted on it and a light flux collector. A double-axis tracking system has been developed for the general case of planar attachment of solar cell modules. A 350 mm stroke drive provides for movement in the north-south direction and a 450 mm stroke drive, in the east-west direction. The task has been outlined to find the required arm for providing symmetrical positioning at the maximum rotation angle about the axis. As a result, technical solutions have been developed for the north-south and the east-west directions. Furthermore a schematic wiring diagram has been designed to implement the preset solar tracking system algorithm. The system is also fitted with a GPS/GLONASS module for system precision positioning and time synchronization. © 2022 National University of Science and Technology MISiS.

Contemporary teaching, learning and assessment processes involve more information and communication technologies. The main goal of using information technologies in the educational process is to improve the quality of education by individualization and strengthening intellectual capabilities of students in the information society. This research considered the information communication technology use in higher education institutions of Kazakhstan, exploring its benefits for students and suggesting possible solutions for the problems arising with ICT implementation. For the purpose of this paper a small fragment of students' survey out of the ongoing research project was used. 558 students from various Kazakh universities were surveyed. One of the questions concerned IT development and digitalization level of the universities, because it enhances students' inclination for innovation and entrepreneurship. According to survey results forty three percent of students think that their universities have been sufficiently digitalized. Other forty percent remained neutral, and seventeen percent complained about the ICT equipment, which means that universities should address this issue to remain competitive. The research contributes to previous studies by focusing on students' attitudes toward ICT implementation. It describes both advantages and disadvantages of the ICT in education, and tries to summarize the current conditions of Kazakhstani higher education. For the successful policy implementation, the suggestions should come from the bottom. Therefore, the students' hands-on knowledge and experience with ICT implementation should be taken into consideration and could be helpful for further integration into educational process. © 2022 IEEE.

The intensification of construction, typical for most Kazakhstani cities today, entails the densification of buildings in the central part, including areas with historical architecture. This allows us to talk about the need to form a new view of architectural objects to preserve the unified architectural appearance of cities based on architectural design codes. In this case, the creation of a non-standard solution is based on the use of a variety of compositional principles and techniques, including the use of a rich color palette. In almost all cases, the use of color needs to be substantiated, which leads to disparate color ratios in the organization of cities' environments, and Almaty is no exception. This research aims to develop a method for coloristic organization of the residential area of the city of Almaty using architectural design code. The article discusses the analysis of color characteristics of various historical periods of development of the city of Almaty, identifying key elements of architectural design code and their applicability to the modern practice of urban environment design. The research methodology is based on the literature analysis and research on the topic of colorism and its application in architectural design code. Observations and data collection were also carried out on the existing structure of the city of Almaty and its problems regarding the coloristic organization of space. The result of the study is the development of recommendations for creating a harmonious color picture of the city of Almaty based on the identified methods and principles. The work includes the following key aspects: a review of architectural codes and regulations, an assessment of visual perception of different color schemes, and their impact on social interaction and the psycho-emotional state of residents. Through techniques such as questionnaires and visual surveys, data on residents' preferences for color schemes were collected, allowing the development of recommendations for creating a color plan that takes into account the characteristic features and cultural aspects of the region. The study's results can be used to further develop urban planning and architectural design codes in Almaty and other regions of Kazakhstan.

Transition metal selenides are considered reliable anode materials for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) on account of their commendable sodium storage capability. Yet they still face problems such as substantial volume amplification and unsatisfied conductivity which are detrimental to the circulation performance of the battery. In view of this, nitrogen-doped carbon (NC) packaged ZnSe/CoSe heterostructures (ZnSe/CoSe@NC) octahedron are rationally designed in this work. The NC capsulated heterostructures octahedron could substantially mitigate the issues of volume expansion and low conductivity for transition metal selenides. Additionally, the rich phase boundary derived from ZnSe/CoSe heterostructured interfaces yields numerous active sites for sodium ions and the formed electric field inside ZnSe/CoSe heterostructure can largely boost charge transfer. Most importantly, the unique heterostructure endows ZnSe/CoSe@NC with relatively stronger sodium adsorption, leading to long cycling stability with a reversible capacity of 289 mAh g−1 underneath 900 cycles at 1 A g−1. Given the pseudocapacitance effect of ZnSe/CoSe@NC in SIBs, a sodium ion capacitor (SIC) on the basis of ZnSe/CoSe@NC capacitor-type anode and Na2FePO4F (NFPF) battery-type cathode is rationally conceived and features high energy densities of 209.4 and 80.4 Wh kg−1 at 240 and 4000 W kg−1. The findings offer a promising pathway toward developing advanced energy storage devices with enhanced cycling stability and high energy density. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024.

The purpose of the study is to conduct toxicological analysis to assess the degree of accumulation of heavy metals and micro- and macroplastic particles in the aquatic environment of the lake in the system “water-bottom sediments”. The method of spectrometric atomic absorption analysis was used during the study. Detection of high concentrations of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) in the surface layer up to 1.5 and 1.3 times, in the bottom layer up to 1.3 and 1.4 times, respectively, indicated exceeding the norms of maximum permissible concentrations for fishery purposes. High values of metals in the surface water layer were registered in deep-water areas of the lake Markakol, and in the bottom layer, high values are concentrated in shallow areas and in the river confluence zones. High Cu concentrations were recorded in shallow areas of the lake, at depths from 2.7 m – 10.2 mg/kg to 4.7 m – 8.9 mg/kg, 7.9 m – 12.3 mg/kg. Cu values in deep water bottom sediments were much lower, at 20.4 m – 2.8 mg/kg, 21.1 m – 2.6 mg/kg, 21.6 m – 6.6 mg/kg. A similar distribution pattern in bottom sediments was observed for Zn. High concentrations of Zn were recorded in shallow areas, from 154 mg/kg at 2.7 m depth, to 439 mg/kg – 4.6 m, this may be due to an increase in the proportion of their bioavailable forms in the water column, which would be harmful to all hydrobionts. The results of the study can be used in practice by ecologists in order to develop and implement measures to improve the ecological state of the ecosystem of Lake Markakol. © 2024 Joint Journal of Novel Carbon Resource Sciences and Green Asia Strategy. All rights reserved.