Proton exchange membranes (PEMs) play a critical role in various energy conversion devices, such as fuel cells. Developing advanced PEMs with improved hydronium ion transportation and chemical stability is essential for enhancing the performance and durability of these devices. In this research project, we focus on the development and molecular modeling study of a novel composite material based on poly(acrylic acid) and graphene oxide for application as a high-performance proton exchange membrane. The need for better PEMs has led us to explore the potential of combining poly(acrylic acid) and graphene oxide, as both materials offer unique advantages in terms of proton conductivity and mechanical strength. Our goal is to investigate how these two components interact and synergize to enhance the overall performance of the PEM, particularly in challenging operating conditions. To achieve this, classical all-atom Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations using Gromacs software were employed. The simulations allowed us to study the formation mechanism of the poly(acrylic acid) and graphene oxide composite material and its application in facilitating hydronium ion transportation within the PEM. Our simulation results revealed fascinating insights into the composite material's behavior. Notably, we observed the emergence of new interactions between poly(acrylate) oligomers and graphene oxide layers, evident from the analysis of interaction energy values. These interactions contribute to the material's enhanced transport properties, making it promising for PEM applications. Moreover, we assessed the mobility of hydronium ions in the graphene oxide and polyacrylate nanocomposite-based PEM and found it comparable to the mobility in traditional poly(acrylate)-based PEMs. This indicates that the introduction of graphene oxide provide compatible proton transport efficiency and renders the composite suitable for practical application in PEM devices. In conclusion, our study demonstrates the potential of the poly(acrylic acid) and graphene oxide composite as a high-performance proton exchange membrane.

Due to its relatively low cost, availability, safety, low environmental impact, and versatility, nitrogen emerges as a promising candidate for enhanced oil recovery. This article provides an overview of nitrogen injection applications within reservoirs, encompassing both miscible and immiscible conditions. Additionally, this work reviews unconventional nitrogen-based enhanced oil recovery methodologies, including the utilization of foam-assisted nitrogen and cold nitrogen injection. To adapt miscible injection for reservoirs characterized by lower pressure, the combination of nitrogen with hydrocarbon gasses or CO2 presents a viable strategy. Notably, both miscible and immiscible nitrogen injection techniques demonstrate the potential to recover approximately 20 % of residual oil saturation. However, under conditions of high water cut, water alternating nitrogen injection surpasses regular immiscible nitrogen injection in terms of oil recovery. In the context of fractured rocks, foam-assisted water alternating nitrogen injection yields a 15 % higher oil recovery compared to conventional water flooding approaches. Intriguingly, nitrogen-based foams have been effectively deployed in field conditions to enhance the recovery of 920 cp oil from heterogeneous reservoirs, resulting in a remarkable up to 2.6-fold increase in oil flow rate. These compelling outcomes instigate a comparative investigation of the method's efficacy against the conventional chemical flooding technique. Furthermore, nitrogen exhibits remarkable potential for oil recovery from ultra-low permeability (198 nD) rocks, owing to its low molecular weight that facilitates penetration even into very small pores. Moreover, the injection of cold nitrogen (–26 °C) induces a substantial enlargement of fractures in low permeability rocks, accentuating its efficacy in this context.

This paper presents a comprehensive approach to forecast solar power generation in the Kazakhstani region, leveraging historical and weather data. The main challenge with solar power lies in its dependency on weather conditions, which significantly impacts day-ahead output planning and grid operations. To address this, we have employed advanced timeseries forecasting models like ARIMA, Facebook Prophet, and XGBoost to predict the power output for the next day. By utilizing the real data from two solar plants located in Kazakhstan and analyzing region's historical weather patterns, our proposed model were carefully validated with walk-forward model validation approach. Obtained results highlight superior performance of XGBoost model, outperforming plant dispatcher's predictions and demonstrate the potential of utilizing machine learning in enhancing the reliability of solar power forecasts. This research provides practical insights for both academics and practitioners, including grid managers and plant dispatchers, aiming to optimize solar power integration and reliable operation of the power grid.

Groundwater is becoming increasingly important as surface water is decreasing and becoming more and more polluted. In particular, rural areas in the arid region of Central Asia face problems with both water quantity and quality. In view of this, we investigated the drinking water quality in the Maysky district in the Pavlodar region, Kazakhstan. The organoleptic properties, together with microbiological indicators, as well as organic and inorganic substances of drinking water before and after treatment, and tap water were studied and compared to recommended levels. The bacteriological indicators of the drinking water, especially, showed that the water represents health risks since the presence of bacteria of the genus Pseudomonas aeruginosa was confirmed. Water treatment reduced the total microbial count (TMC) indicator by 3.6 times. However, TMC still exceeded permissible levels in the tap water, indicating that the drinking water is sanitary and epidemiologically not acceptable. Pathogenic contamination of drinking water can severely affect weaker individuals and children. It has been estimated that the infant mortality rate in Kazakhstan is six times higher as compared to the EU and less than 30% of Kazakhstan’s population have access to safe water. Also, 50% of the population drink water that does not comply with the international standards, e.g., bacteriological levels. Thus, it is important to continuously monitor the groundwater quality to minimize health risks and work towards access to safe drinking water, in line with the UN SDGs.

The Shulbinsk Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP) located on the Irtysh River in the eastern part of Kazakhstan is one of the largest and oldest hydropower plants in the country. The efficiency of water management systems in the Shulbi reservoir heavily depends on discharge of the Oba and Ulbi rivers, which are the right-hand tributaries of the Irtysh River. This region is characterized by a sparse network of observation stations, which do not allow to fully represent hydrological processes occurring in the area, and therefore planning of adaptation measures related to climate change could be problematic. To overcome this limitation, our study uses the available high-resolution global climate dataset WATCH and explores the possibility of using the Soil and Water Integrated Model (SWIM) to predict river discharge in the basins of the Oba and Ulbi rivers. SWIM was calibrated and validated for the entire Oba and Ulbi river basins. The period from 1962 to 1971 was used as a calibration period, and the period from 1972 to 2016 as a validation period considering every decade separately. The Nash and Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) and relative volume error (RVE) were used to assess performance of the model. The calibration results showed a good agreement between the modeled and observed discharge with NSE of 0.86 and RVE of 5.6 % for the Oba River and NSE of 0.84 and RVE of 0.2 % for the Ulbi River. The analysis of modelling results shows that also the high flow indices Q10 and Q5 corresponding to 90th and 95th percentiles, respectively, are represented sufficiently well by the model SWIM. Based on the obtained results, we can conclude that the model could be successfully applied for predicting discharge and high flows of both rivers in the coming decades, and for projecting discharge in the future under climate change scenarios. Copyright © 2023, Authors. All rights reserved.

Paleoseismic studies are essential to improve earthquake hazard mitigation, a challenging task in the Tian Shan mountains characterized by numerous active faults, frequent strong earthquakes, and abundant triggered landslides. Here, we date the debated formation of Kaindy Lake, the famous landslide-dammed lake in southeastern Kazakhstan, included in the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves. Our dendrochronological study compares ring-width patterns from dead trees (Picea schrenkiana) still standing in the lake with living trees growing on surrounding slopes and other trees on the landslide debris. Our results place the formation of the lake to just after 1888 A.D. (the last ring of sunken trees) and before 1898 A.D. (the first established trees on the landslide), a period for which only the 1889 A.D. Chilik earthquake (M 8.2) has been reported and caused extensive damages in the region (surface ruptures, landslides). Thus, we propose that the landslide was triggered during this historical earthquake, questioning the previously preferred date of 1911 A.D., and the local common belief. Furthermore, our results indirectly complement previous paleoseismic studies at 8.5 km away, for which the most recent event in the region was poorly defined by geochronological dating, but suggested a surface rupture associated with the 1889 A.D. earthquake. The proximity of the landslide to the surface rupture would place it in the epicentral zone of the Chilik earthquake.

Folate receptor α (FRα) is overexpressed on numerous tumorous cell types such as ovarian or endometrial cancer cells. Moreover, FRα is absent from most healthy tissues as it is normally expressed only on the surface of proximal tubules cells of kidneys and choroid plexus. Thus, folate-based radiopharmaceuticals have emerged this last two decades as FRα is a target of choice to diagnose and treat numerous cancers. Nuclear imaging is a performing diagnostic technology using highly sensitive detectors and specific radiopharmaceuticals used to detect tumors at an earlier stage. Herein, an overview of the development of folate-based radiopharmaceuticals to detect FRα-positive tumors by nuclear imaging using positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is exposed. Strategies developed to improve precursor synthesis, bioavailability, clearance, and affinity to FRα will be detailed. Advances made to decrease kidney uptake open the gate to targeted radionuclide therapy (TRT) using folate-based radiopharmaceuticals to treat FRα-positive tumors. Thus, radiofolates used in TRT and more precisely in a theranostic approach will be depicted in this review.

Purpose. Increasing oil recovery from reservoirs, reducing water content, and decreasing costs by pumping formation water effectively cleaned of suspended solids allows you to get a picture of the uniform distribution of water over the reservoir and, in general, the quality maintenance of reservoir pressure in productive reservoirs. Methodology. The study on water treatment issues for maintaining reservoir pressure at existing oil fields has a variety of approaches. Therefore, the methods of analysis, review, comparison, modeling, experiment were used in the work. The analysis method made it possible to divide the problems of approaches to the formation water preparation for its injection into the reservoir into many elements, which made it possible to learn their properties, connections and relationships. This method contributes to a more detailed structuring of the problem of water treatment. The analogy method uses the study of the technology of preparation of reservoir water with suspended solids. Based on the data, an effective technology was studied for treating formation water from suspended solids and injecting it into a productive formation. Findings. The experiments carried out reflect the high-quality water preparation using the developed new industrial sand-gravel filter made of granular materials with variable particle sizes in the vertical direction, taking into account the rational parameters of the column height of the filter working area. The regularities were studied and the process of formation water preparation without suspended solid particles was improved on the basis of the theoretical and experimental studies carried out on a special laboratory unit. The dependence of the reservoir permeability in the bottomhole zone of injection wells on the size of solid suspended particles in the injected water was determined, and rational filter parameters were established for preparing injected water without suspended solid particles into the reservoir using granular materials with a variable fraction and water supply from the bottom up. Originality. An effective technology for deep purification of formation water from suspended clay particles is proposed by using filters made of granular materials with a variable particle size. The technical result of the invention is to increase the efficiency of purification of industrial waste and industrial formation waters with suspended solids. Practical value. A new method for deep formation water treatment is proposed, which ensures the capture of suspended solids. The results of experiments on establishing the regularity of the process of formation water filtration with suspended clay particles through a porous medium with variable pore sizes and granular particles are presented. A recommendation has been developed for choosing rational parameters and operating modes of a new filter for formation water treatment.

This article addresses the optimization of start-up modes for technological machines with heavy rotors, relevant across industries, including mining and metallurgy. It proposes a pneumatic starting and auxiliary device (PSAD) using bellows pneumatic cylinders and a ratchet mechanism to facilitate start-up and reduce inrush currents in such machines. Materials and methods. An experimental setup simulating a ball mill’s operation was designed. The methodology involved investigating the impact of the limit switch position, which controls the main engine, on the inrush current value. The experiment then fixed this position and altered the pneumatic system pressure in 0.1 MPa increments, from 0.1 MPa to 0.4 MPa, recording the resulting inrush current changes. Results. The study shows the impact from pulse and follow-up current to motor terminals, and the pre-work of PSAD in step-by-step mode. The result showed significant reduction in the initial current peaks due to the starting process of the main engine. The optimal limit switch position was at the beginning of the stroke of one cylinder, providing maximum force at minimal deformation. Increasing pressure led to inrush current decreases. Discussion. These results affirm pneumatic power systems and implementation in starting equipment, but there are complexities with precise adjustment and the requirement for good manufacturing and assembling qualities. These additional findings provide a more detailed evaluation of factors influencing PSAD performance. In particular, selecting the ideal diameter for supply piping is crucial. Conclusion. PSAD using bellows pneumatic cylinders and a ratchet mechanism is a promising approach for heavy rotor machines. Tests displayed efficiency in reducing inrush currents. Pre-work in step-by-step mode, combined with pressure increase, lowers starter loads on the drive. Precise adjustment is critical, otherwise, system performance and reverse drum rotation will result. Resume. This research establishes optimal PSAD parameters (limit switch placement, pneumatic pressure) for minimal inrush current. Results aid PSAD implementation in mining/metallurgy, enhancing reliability, energy efficiency, and decreasing costs. Still, deployment should consider adjusting difficulties and needs of producing and meeting components.

Glacial-lake outburst floods (GLOFs) threaten more than three million residents of south-east Kazakhstan, yet quantitative data on lake growth and storage are scarce. We inventoried 154 lakes on the northern flank of the Ile-Alatau and selected four moraine-dammed basins with the greatest historical flood activity for detailed study. Annual lake outlines (2016–2023) were extracted from 3 m PlanetScope imagery with a Normalised Difference Water Index workflow, while late-ablation echo-sounder surveys (2023–2024) yielded sub-metre bathymetric grids. A regionally calibrated area–volume power law translated each shoreline to water storage, and field volumes served as an independent accuracy check. The lakes display divergent trajectories. Rapid thermokarst development led to a 37% increase in the surface area of Lake 13bis, expanding from 0.039 km2 to 0.054 km2 over a 5-year period. In contrast, engineering-induced drawdown resulted in a 44% reduction in the area of Lake 6, from 0.019 km2 to 0.011 km2. Lakes 5 and 2, which are supplied by actively retreating glaciers, exhibited surface area increases of 4.8% and 15%, expanding from 0.077 km2 to 0.088 km2 and from 0.061 km2 to 0.070 km2, respectively. The empirical model reproduces field volumes to within ±25% for four lakes, confirming its utility for rapid hazard screening, but overestimates storage in low-relief basins and underestimates artificially drained lakes. This is the first study in Ile-Alatau to fuse daily 3 m multispectral imagery with ground-truth bathymetry, delivering an 8-year, volume-resolved record of lake evolution. The results identify Lake 5 and Lake 2 as priority targets for early-warning systems and demonstrate that sustained intervention can effectively suppress GLOF risk. Incorporating these storage trajectories into regional disaster plans will sharpen evacuation mapping, optimise resource allocation, and inform transboundary water-hazard policy under accelerating climate change.