These studies were carried out within the framework of non-competitive program-targeted funding on the topic: ‘Assessment of seismic hazard of territories of regions and cities of Kazakhstan on the modern scientific and methodological basis. 2021-2023’. The work presents the results of seismic hazard assessment, for the first time carried out on a new methodological basis, corresponding to the provisions of Eurocode 8 (EN 1998-1:2004) ‘Design of seismic resistant structures’ and coordinated with the modern maps of the general seismic zoning of countries of the EurAsEC and the Customs Union, for use in design and construction practice in Kazakhstan. The main distinctive elements are the probabilistic approach to the calculation of seismic hazard and the characterization of the hazard in the quantitative parameters of ground vibrations in addition to macroseismic characteristics. The result of the seismic hazard assessment is a set of maps that allows rational planning of civil and industrial developing of different areas and estimation of the total costs required for anti-seismic measures of a national scale. Such maps illustrate regional differences in the amplitude of ground oscillations with a constant recurrence period of seismic shaking (i.e., a constant probability of exceeding the seismic effect). The RK seismic zoning maps are of great practical value and are intended for the administrative bodies that regulate construction works of residential and industrial facilities, as well as for design and architectural organizations that develop documentation for earthquake-proof construction of civil and industrial structures and allow more efficient investment in capital construction, taking into account the available assessment of potential seismic hazard using bothMSK-64 scale points and engineering characteristics. © National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan, 2022.

This study investigates the perceptions of higher education students regarding an interactive DC (Direct Current) motor simulator, shedding light on the evolving landscape of virtual education. By utilizing five aspects of learning dimension, visual elements, software functionality, usability, and portability of a four-point Likert scale questionnaire, the research uncovers a generally positive reception of the simulator among students, who view it as a valuable complement to traditional hands-on laboratories, enabling self-paced learning and offering repeatable experiments in a safe environment. Nevertheless, our research highlights notable concerns, such as challenges related to user interface design and pre-installation software. These findings offer crucial insights into the strengths and limitations of a DC motor simulator in higher education, providing guidance for educators and instructional designers striving to optimize digital learning experiences. © 2024 Didik Hariyanto et al; published by UIKTEN. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 License.

Inexpensive and efficient desalination is becoming increasingly important due to dwindling freshwater resources in view of climate change and population increase. Improving desalination techniques of brackish water using graphene-based materials has the possibility to revolutionize freshwater production and treatment. At the same time, graphene matter can be cheaply mass-produced from biowaste materials. In view of this, graphene material was obtained from a four-step production approach starting from rice husk (RH), including pre-carbonation, desilication, chemical activation, and exfoliation. The results showed that the produced samples contained a mixture of graphene layers and amorphous carbon. The activation ratio of 1:5 for carbonized RH and potassium hydroxide (KOH), respectively, provided higher graphene content than the 1:4 ratio of the same components, while the number of active layers remained unaffected. Further treatment with H2O2 did not affect the graphene content and exfoliation of the amorphous carbon. Preparation of the graphene material by the NIPS technique and vacuum filtration displayed different physicochemical characteristics of the obtained membranes. However, the membranes’ main desalination function might be related more to adsorption rather than size exclusion. In any case, the desalination properties of the different graphene material types were tested on 35 g/L saltwater samples containing NaCl, KCl, MgCl2, CaSO4, and MgSO4. The produced graphene materials efficiently reduced the salt content by up to 95%. Especially for the major constituent NaCl, the removal efficiency was high.

Even though natural sources of air pollution account for over 50% of sulphur compounds, 93% of nitrogen oxide which are the most dangerous artificial anthropogenic sources of air pollution and primarily associated with the combustion of fossil fuel. Coal-fired thermal power plants and industrial fuel-burning plants that emit large quantities of nitrogen oxides (NО and NО2), solids (ash, dust, soot), as well as carbon oxides, aldehydes, organic acids into the atmosphere pollute the environment in majority. In the present work, a mathematical model and a scheme for calculating the formation of nitrogen oxide has been developed. Also, the dependence of the rate of release of fuel nitrogen from coal particles at the initial stage of gasification and content of volatiles has been obtained. The main regularities of the formation of NOx at the initial section of the flame in the ignition zone of the swirl burner flame during the combustion of Ekibastuz coal have been revealed. Modern environmental requirements for the modernization of existing and the creation of new heat and power facilities determine the exceptional relevance of the development of effective methods and constructions to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides and ash to 200, 300, and 100 mg/nm3 at a = 1.4. The dust consumption in all experiments was kept constant and amounted to 0.042 g/s, as well as with the results of calculating the thermal decomposition of the Ekibastuz coal dust, the recombination of atomic nitrogen into nitrogen molecules, and the kinetics of the formation of fuel nitric oxide. It was found that despite the presence of oxygen in Ekibastuz coal for gases Odaf = 11.8% in an inert atmosphere, nitrogen oxides are not formed. © The Author(s) 2021.

This article reviews research studies on compression heat pump-assisted thermal desalination systems. The reported studies are grouped as follows: (a) compression heat pump-assisted regenerative solar still thermal desalination; (b) compression heat pump-assisted humidification–dehumidification thermal desalination; (c) compression heat pump-assisted air conditioning and thermal desalination; (d) compression heat pump-assisted vacuum thermal desalination; (e) compression heat pump-assisted membrane thermal desalination; (f) compression heat pump-assisted freezing thermal desalination; and (g) compression–absorption and compression–adsorption hybrid heat pump-assisted thermal desalination. The schematics of the new configurations are included. Moreover, the economic and environmental assessments for compression heat pump-assisted thermal desalination systems are presented. Based on the review, the current status, challenges and future research scope in the field of compression heat pump-assisted thermal desalination systems are described. This review concludes that compression heat pumps are energy-efficient heat regeneration equipment that can be integrated with thermal desalination systems to produce potable water. The details reported in this paper are useful for consultants, researchers and industrial experts working in thermal desalination. © Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, Hungary 2024.

Cancer remains a leading reason of mortality, with the current global death toll estimated at 10 million and projected to surpass 16 million by 2040 as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO). In addition to the devastating loss of lives, incorrect cancer diagnoses and medical errors further contribute to the mortality rate. To address these challenges, there is an urgent need for automated and computerized diagnostic techniques that can reduce errors and improve the treatment of cancer patients. In the recent decades, extensive investigation has centred on developing automatic and accurate detection techniques for various categories of cancer. This article exhibits a thorough review of five categories of cancers: pancreatic, esophageal, prostate, colorectal, and leukemia, utilizing both classical machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) methods. Notably, the selection of these cancers arises from both their lethal impact and the observed scarcity of consolidated literature surveys encompassing these specific types. A total of 191 peer-reviewed publication are considered which were published spanning the years 2018 to 2023. The analysis and review of cancer detection techniques were conducted separately for ML and DL models, with 87 articles focusing on ML-based techniques and 104 articles focusing on DL-based techniques. The study, a synthesis of diverse research endeavors, offers a comparative dissection of the best and worst performing classifiers. Additionally, it illuminates overarching findings and confronts challenges, encapsulating a compendium of insights crucial for the trajectory of future research. We put emphasis on the magnitude of advancements in diagnostic methods and the choice of appropriate classification models. Additionally, we highlight the significance of feature engineering techniques in advancing cancer detection performance. By consolidating the findings of numerous research articles and analyzing the advantages and limitations of distinctive methodologies, this study contributes to the ongoing efforts to improve cancer detection methods. The results underscore the pressing need for reducing medical errors and advancing the field of cancer diagnosis and treatment. © 2024

The implementation of bioactivation nanofluid in single and double slope solar stills (SDESS) is an important aspect from thermo-economic point of view. Based on efficient thermal modelling, a comparative analysis of nanofluids is also suggested for design optimization of solar stills. To develop SDESS observations, the data is taken for the period from January 2021 to April 2022, at KLEF in India. To create green TiO2 nanoparticles using eco-friendly bleaching chemicals and jackfruit peel (Bioactivation), a green nanoscale approach is used. The performance of the double-effect solar distiller (DESD) is demonstrated using various TiO2/Jackfruit peel nanofluids (TJPN) (5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, and 30%) with silver colour balls. The SDESS results are presented as energy (41%) and exergy (5.63%), with the TJPN having the highest efficacy (20%) based on water depth of 0.8 cm. With a water depth of 0.8 cm over the course of a 12-hour observation period, the total SDESS efficiency result is 7.35 kg/m2 per day and TJPN for 30%. An economic analysis of SDESS is found with the cost of concentration that portable water (per litre) and appraised around 0.0726$ by reimbursement term of 14 months. The average thermo-enviro-economics analysis of SDESS is 3.35 (exergy) and 4.71% (Energy). For 0.8 cm of water depth and an analysis of the weather for good life cycle units, SDESS concentrates 7.97 tonnes of CO2 emissions. Additionally, the analysis of TJPN optimization by the SDESS is done for 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, and 30% and is based on the theoretical yield at the maximum water temperature and water depths of 0.6, 0.8, 1 and 1.2 cm. © 2023 International Solar Energy Society

The article examines the current change in renewable water resources of the Еrtis River basin, taking into account regional climatic and anthropogenic impacts. The study of the river flow of the transboundary Ertis River is extremely important for interstate cooperation of 3 neighboring countries regarding the joint use and protection of water resources. The flow of the Еrtis River has a huge impact on the socio-economic development of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as it is the main source of water for the northeastern and eastern parts of the country. The main goal of the authors is to study long-term trends in runoff changes, taking into account climatic and anthropogenic loads in order to develop scientifically justified strategies for sustainable management and protection of water resources of the Ertis transboundary river basin. The results of assessments taking into account climate change show that since 1973 there has been an increase in river flow at gauging stations located in runoff formation zones in mountainous areas, and a decrease in runoff located in the flat part of the basin in the dispersion zone. When assessing anthropogenic factors on river runoff, the method of hydrological analogy, the method of water balance and statistical data on the coefficient of water withdrawal of non-returnable water consumption were used. In general, the assessment of the anthropogenic impact on the basin of the river Ertis shows a decrease in total runoff by 6.08 km3, i.e. by 16.9% of the climatically determined runoff. © National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan, 2022.

Central Asia is an area characterized by complex tectonic and active deformation, largely due to the relative convergent motion between India-Arabia and Eurasia. The resulting compressional tectonic regime is responsible for the development of significant seismic activity, which, along with other natural hazards such as mass movements and river flooding, contributes to increased risk to local populations. Although several studies have been conducted on individual perils at the local and national levels, the last published regional model for the whole of Central Asia, developed under the EMCA (Earthquake Model Central Asia) project, is almost 10 years old. With the goal of developing a new comprehensive multi-risk model that is uniform and consistent across the five Central Asian countries of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, the European Union, in collaboration with the World Bank and the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR), funded the regional programme SFRARR (Strengthening Financial Resilience and Accelerating Risk Reduction in Central Asia). The activity was led by a consortium of scientists from international research institutions, from both the public and the private sectors, with contributions from experts of the local scientific community. This study presents the main results of a probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA) conducted as part of the SFRARR programme to develop the new risk model for Central Asia. The proposed PSHA model was developed using state-of-the-art methods and calibrated based on the most up-to-date information available for the region, including a novel homogenized earthquake catalogue compiled from global and local sources and a database of active faults with associated slip rate information. © Author(s) 2025.

Soils derived from loess are fertile but susceptible to accelerated degradation in response to agricultural practices. The objective of our study was to evaluate the long-term effects of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) integrated with contrasting organic amendments (29 years) to rejuvenate degraded loess via total soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration. The replicated study was conducted in concrete lysimeter plots (2 m long × 1 m wide × 60 cm deep) filled with degraded loess materials followed by planting of alfalfa with cattle manure (60 Mg/ha) or vermicompost (27 Mg/ha) amendments. After 29 years, SOC concentration increased by 5.3–6.2-fold under alfalfa–organic amendments compared to the control. A similar impact of alfalfa–organic amendments was observed on the humic acid, fulvic acid, and humin concentrations. There was an overestimation of SOC stocks (151 ± 48 kg/ha) when equivalent depth was used compared to equivalent mass of soil. While the SOC sequestration rates were 614 ± 129, 710 ± 69, and 744 ± 161 kg/ha/year at 0–10 cm depth under alfalfa, alfalfa–manure, and alfalfa–vermicompost treatments, respectively, the SOC sequestration rates decreased with depth. Significantly higher values of carbon pool index (CPI) and carbon management index (CMI) under alfalfa–organic amendments justified our results associated with the SOC sequestration; however, the SOC lability (CL) decreased under alfalfa–organic amendments, when compared to the control. A significant nonlinear inverse relationship (R2 = 0.80) between the CPI and CL suggested that SOC sequestration is significantly dependent on its lability or vice versa. Our results suggested that the impact of alfalfa–organic amendments significantly rejuvenated the degraded loess soils via SOC sequestration. © 2023 The Authors. Land Degradation & Development published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.