Layers of TiO2 nanotubes formed by the anodization process represent an area of active research in the context of innovative energy conversion and storage systems. Titanium nanotubes (TNTs) have attracted attention because of their unique properties, especially their high surface-to-volume ratio, which makes them a desirable material for various technological applications. The anodization method is widely used to produce TNTs because of its simplicity and relative cheapness; the method enables precise control over the thickness of TiO2 nanotubes. Anodization can also be used to create decorative and colored coatings on titanium nanotubes. In this study, a combined structure including anodic TiO2 nanotubes and SrTiO3 particles was fabricated using chemical synthesis techniques. TiO2 nanotubes were prepared by anodizing them in ethylene glycol containing NH4F and H2O while applying a voltage of 30 volts. An anode nanotube array heat-treated at 450 °C was then placed in an autoclave filled with dilute SrTiO3 solution. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis showed that the TNTs were characterized by clear and open tube ends, with an average outer diameter of 1.01 μm and an inner diameter of 69 nm, and their length is 133 nm. The results confirm the successful formation of a structure that can be potentially applied in a variety of applications, including hydrogen production by the photocatalytic decomposition of water under sunlight. © 2024 by the authors.

Wind power in Kazakhstan, following the global trend, continues to develop and there is an increase in the number of RES power plants. The development of wind energy involves the creation of large-sized and high-power installations. The rotors of wind turbines experience heavy loads on their design. Thus, the actual task and problem for the wind energy park of Kazakhstan is to reduce the load on the structure by regulating it during wind gusts. The use of a control system for the rotation of the blades makes it possible to significantly reduce the load on the structure. However, due to the non- linearity of the process and the difficulty of accurately measuring the wind speed, the blade turning control system must be designed with great care. This paper presents the development of a lever mechanical system for controlling the blades of a wind turbine, which makes it possible to secure the operation of a wind generator. The purpose of the study is to develop a 3D model of a lever control system and create an automatic control system for it. A three-dimensional study of the rotor in various states of the rotor was carried out. This dynamic computer model is proof of the functionality of the communication system. The transfer function of the entire control system is also determined and, based on experimental data, a mathematical model of an experimental laboratory sample is developed. This installation will optimize the operation of a vertical axis wind generator by creating a wind flow control system for further converting the wind flow into electrical energy. © 2022 IEEE.

Non-autoclaved aerated concrete (NAAC) is gaining attention for its strength-to-weight ratio and sustainability benefits. Produced by incorporating a blowing agent into a binder, aggregate, and water mixture, NAAC offers a lightweight and porous construction material. Ash and slag waste (ASW), primarily composed of silicon, aluminum, iron, and calcium oxides, presents significant potential as a sustainable additive. However, industrial-scale processing of ASW still needs to be explored in Kazakhstan. This study evaluates the feasibility of utilizing ASW from the Ust-Kamenogorsk Thermal Power Plant to produce earthquake-resistant NAAC. Incorporating 31.5% ASW by weight optimizes compressive strength, achieving 2.35 MPa and significantly improving the mechanical properties. Chemical and microstructural analyses confirm ASW’s suitability as a construction material. The study also introduces innovative processing methods and explores convolutional neural network models for predicting material structure changes, providing insights into optimizing production processes. The findings address the research objectives by confirming the viability of ASW in NAAC production and demonstrating its potential for sustainable construction. The results offer a pathway for industrial-scale applications, contributing to waste utilization and resource conservation. © 2024 by the authors.

Graphene oxide-based membranes hold great promise in composite materials for applications such as wastewater treatment and oil–water separation. In this study, classical molecular dynamics simulations were employed to investigate the separation of water from an oil–water mixture using a two-layer graphene oxide membrane. The effects of random and stripe-like grafting patterns on penetration efficiency were explored, focusing on varying grafting densities. The results show that increasing grafting density reduces permeability of both oil and water molecules, highlighting the critical role of surface functionalization in membrane design. Notably, the stripe grafting pattern significantly enhances penetration efficiency by optimizing steric interactions around the nanoslit. These findings contribute to the development of nanocomposite materials and surface modification techniques, offering insights into the design of membranes with high performance for oil–water separation. Understanding relationship between grafting density, surface patterning, and membrane performance is crucial for advancing hybrid materials that address industrial challenges such as wastewater treatment and oil spill remediation. The insights gained from this study can be further refined by exploring different functional groups and surface modifications, broadening the applications of these membranes in industrial separation processes. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024.

In recent years, the development of nanomaterials with biocidal properties has received considerable attention due to their potential applications in various industries, including food, medicine, and cultural heritage preservation. The growing demand for coatings with antibacterial properties has sparked interest from industrial sectors in exploring the incorporation of biocides into these materials. Coatings are prone to microbial growth, which can cause damage such as cracking, discoloration, and staining. To combat these problems, the integration of biocides into coatings is a crucial strategy. Biocide-embedded nanomaterials offer numerous advantages, including high efficiency in small quantities, ease of application, good chemical stability, low toxicity, and non-bioaccumulation. Encapsulated nanobiocides are particularly attractive to the agro-industry, because they can be less toxic than traditional biocides while still effectively controlling microbial contamination. To fully exploit the benefits of nanobiocides, future research should focus on optimizing their synthesis, formulation, and delivery methods. The purpose of this review is to summarize the current status of biocide nanomaterials, discuss potential future research directions, and highlight research methods, the development of new forms of nanomaterials, and studies of their physico-chemical properties. Biocide nanocapsules of DCOIT (4,5-Dichloro-2-octyl-2H-isothiazol-3-one) are chosen as an example to illustrate the research pathways. © 2024 by the authors.

Flood modelling in snow-fed river basins is critical for understanding the impacts of climate change on hydrological extremes. The Zhabay River in northern Kazakhstan exemplifies a basin highly vulnerable to seasonal floods, which pose significant risks to infrastructure, livelihoods, and water resource management. Traditional flood forecasting in Central Asia still relies on statistical models developed during the Soviet era, which are limited in their ability to incorporate non-stationary climate and anthropogenic influences. This study addresses this gap by applying the Soil and Water Integrated Model (SWIM) to project climate-driven changes in the hydrological regime of the Zhabay River. The study employs a process-based, high-resolution hydrological model to simulate flood dynamics under future climate conditions. Historical hydrometeorological data were used to calibrate and validate the model at the Atbasar gauge station. Future flood scenarios were simulated using bias-corrected outputs from an ensemble of General Circulation Models (GCMs) under Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) 4.5 and 8.5 for the periods 2011–2040, 2041–2070, and 2071–2099. This approach enables the assessment of seasonal and interannual variability in flood magnitudes, peak discharges, and their potential recurrence intervals. Findings indicate a substantial increase in peak spring floods, with projected discharge nearly doubling by mid-century under both climate scenarios. The study reveals a 1.8-fold increase in peak discharge between 2010 and 2040, and a twofold increase from 2041 to 2070. Under the RCP 4.5 scenario, extreme flood events exceeding a 100-year return period (2000 m3/s) are expected to become more frequent, whereas the RCP 8.5 scenario suggests a stabilization of extreme event occurrences beyond 2071. These findings underscore the growing flood risk in the region and highlight the necessity for adaptive water resource management strategies. This research contributes to the advancement of climate-resilient flood forecasting in Central Asian river basins. The integration of process-based hydrological modelling with climate projections provides a more robust framework for flood risk assessment and early warning system development. The outcomes of this study offer crucial insights for policymakers, hydrologists, and disaster management agencies in mitigating the adverse effects of climate-induced hydrological extremes in Kazakhstan. © 2025 by the authors.

The Covid-19 pandemic impacted the increasing use of Android smartphones in teaching and learning. This study aims to build markerless VR-AR (Virtual Reality-Augmented Reality) as Android-based teaching materials for construction engineering students at Polytechnic. VR-AR-based teaching materials that have been established can reduce the risk of spreading Covid-19 without reducing learning quality. This research used the V-model method, which is divided into two parts, particularly development and testing activities. Testing is performed by developers and examiners using ISO 25010. The test results of VR-AR-based teaching materials that have been established show that the teaching materials were very feasible in terms of functional suitability, compatibility, and usability. All functions of the VR-AR application operate smoothly and work successfully on various Android operating systems with different screen resolutions. Moreover, users were satisfied with the developed VR-AR-based teaching materials. They felt comfortable, fun, and excited when using the AR application. © 2022. All Rights Reserved.

Drinking water samples from eight districts of Almaty, Kazakhstan was collected and physical and chemical analysis of the samples was carried out. Quality indicators of drinking water, such as organoleptic characteristics of water (smell, taste, color, and turbidity), general characteristics (pH, total hardness, permanganate demand, and dry residue), inorganic substances (cations and anions) and contaminants (heavy metals and total petroleum hydrocarbons) were determined, except pesticide residues which will be analyzed for further analysis with a wide range of pollutants. According to all indicators obtained for all districts of Almaty, the anthropogenic impact on drinking water in Almaty districts is assessed as low, not exceeding the permissible maximum allowable concentrations (MAC) values, and drinking water in Almaty corresponds to the approved standards and rules for drinking water of Kazakhstan. Despite of the fact that studied pollutants are below their MAC values, they still pose threat to public health due to their accumulative properties. The study of drinking water in the districts of Almaty made it possible to assess the ecological state in the studied districts of Almaty, as well as to propose recommendations for improving the quality of drinking water in areas where water quality indicators are closer to their MAC values. © 2022 The Author(s). Published by al-Farabi Kazakh National University..

The mechanical properties of a polycarbonate matrix composite with glass fiber reinforcements used for the manufacture of a multistage centrifugal pump impeller are researched in this article. The material properties are modelled using DIGIMAT (The Material Modelling Platform) to determine the strain resistance of the composite with different proportions of reinforcements. The Tsai–Hill failure criterion is used to determine the strength in all cases. The results have been verified by physical testing to determine the influence of the shape and mass proportion of reinforcements on its mechanical properties. The strength of the manufactured part is correlated to technological factors using the MARC MENTAT solver, and the most and the least favorable combinations of these factors are determined © © 2022 Published by Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz

Engineers in the Creative and Cultural Industries (CCIs) are underrepresented, despite high demand for their expertise resulting from digitalization. Increasing the quantity of engineers in CCIs has emerged as a policy goal, since experiments have shown that combining engineering and creative abilities enhances productivity and innovation output. It is therefore unsurprising that the high and unmet demand for engineers in CCIs is well documented. However, the factors contributing to them not taking up jobs in these sectors are not well understood. The existing knowledge mostly comes from the analysis of deficiencies within the CCIs, including cultural disparities, skill profiles and economic factors. But why engineers themselves consider CCIs to provide inappropriate career tracks is little understood. The present study aims to bridge this knowledge gap through two main pillars. First, it develops a novel theoretical framework that aims to provide a taxonomy operationalizing the reasons for which engineers do not engage with the CCIs. This framework categorizes the social and economic barriers that keep engineers from pursuing careers in the CCIs. It includes economic factors, educational path dependencies, integration and interest. Second, our study offers preliminary quantitative insights into how the framework operates in practice, identifying key barriers without drawing definitive classifications. This analysis serves to highlight patterns and considerations for the future. The data source used is a survey among 104 university engineering and STEM students. Our results indicate that economic factors, such as poor salaries and job instability that are both prevalent in the CCIs are not the major barriers keeping engineers from the CCIs. They do not feel that educational investment would bear insufficient return. Instead, they feel ill-equipped to integrate into CCIs because of perceived deficiencies in artistic abilities. Furthermore, educational path dependencies for engineers do not necessarily support multidisciplinary education or counseling toward careers in the CCIs. These further exacerbate their worries regarding integration in the CCIs. These issues identified by our exploratory study can be resolved, predominantly because engineering students demonstrate inherent interest in arts and culture. Our research identifies the need for implementing specific changes to promote education and career guidance that span several disciplines. Copyright © 2024 Turegeldinova, Amralinova, Fodor, Rakhmetullina, Konurbayeva and Kiizbayeva.