The kinetics study of Pb2+ and Zn2+ ions adsorption by low-cost mixed Zr-Ca-Mg phosphates with a different Zr/(Ca + Mg) ratio was carried out, for the first time. The effect of chemical composition on adsorption characteristics of obtained adsorbents was established. It was shown that an increase of Ca2+ and Mg2+ cations content in the composition of Zr-Ca-Mg phosphate adsorbents contributed to an increase in the adsorption capacity to Pb2+ (3.82–4.76 mmol/g) and Zn2+ (2.60–4.13 mmol/g) ions. Such improvements in the adsorption capacities were due to the amelioration of the textural properties of adsorbents, so that ABET of adsorbents was in the range of 68–96 m2/g and Vdes BJH of adsorbent was in the range of 0.19–0.24 cm3/g. On the other hand, increase of Ca2+ and Mg2+ cations led to a high difference in solubility products of initial phosphates and spent adsorbents. Kinetic data of Pb2+ and Zn2+ ions adsorption revealed that the adsorption rate is controlled by film diffusion, intraparticle diffusion and chemical interaction, which was confirmed by the results of X-ray diffraction analysis of spent adsorbents and described by the pseudo-second-order model. The increase of zirconium content caused an increase in the rate constant of the pseudo-second-order of Pb2+ and Zn2+ ions adsorption. Intraparticle diffusion had a significant effect on Zn2+ ions adsorption. Due to the suitable kinetics parameters and sorption capacities of composite Zr-Ca-Mg phosphates for divalent metal ions, these sorbents can be recommended as effective materials for heavy metals removal. © 2023 Elsevier Ltd

The numerous cases of deformation of technogenic objects in the transport industry under increasing axial loads and speeds of motion aggravate the need to solve the problems of early recognition of the nature and causes of deformations of structural elements. The need for this is due to the fact that destructions and accidents, resulting from deformation processes, cause enormous economic, social and environmental damage, incomparable with the funds spent on protective measures. The object of the study in the article is a railway trestle, consisting of two spans of a ribbed reinforced concrete beam. Determination of the residual resource in terms of bearing capacity and load-carrying capacity of the railway trestle is the main task. The authors have obtained bending deformations (stresses), frequencies of natural vibrations and operating modes of structures of railway trestle spans. The damage degree of the railway overpass spans structures may also be judged by the deviation of the calculated values of the amplitude-phase-frequency characteristics (AFFR) from the standard values. The peculiarity of this research is the fact, that the natural frequencies of railway overpass vibrations are determined either by «tails» of experimental vibrograms (oscillograms) after the load release from the span structure. During the express-diagnostics of railway overpasses, the relative deformations (stresses) of girder spans in the middle of the span, the first frequency (period) of natural vibrations of girder reinforced concrete spans of railway overpasses are used as parameters characterizing the technical condition of the spans. The results of tests and examinations of overpasses to ensure their safe operation have been given © 2022, Authors. This is an open access article under the Creative Commons CC BY license

Lake Markakol is located in a metal-rich mountain area of Kazakhstan. Metal input into the lake water and in the bottom sediments can be expected. Lead, cobalt and nickel monitoring in both near-surface and deep-water layers and in bottom sediments was carried out using flame atomic absorption spectrometric analyses. Lead contamination of surface water ranging from 2.6 to 6.8 µg/L occurs in all water samples with the exception of the surface water layer. In the deep-water section concentrations reach up to 13.0–16.2 µg/L. Cobalt concentrations range from 36.8 to 67.5 µg/L in the surface layer and from 25.5 to 69.2 µg/L in the deep-water layer. High values of nickel were found in the surface and bottom layers of the water, ranging from 13.5 to 49.0 and 17.2 to 49.0 µg/L, respectively. High concentrations of lead, cobalt and nickel were identified in all samples of the bottom sediments. The lead content in bottom sediments reaches 11.3, cobalt reaches 10.3–18.0 and nickel reaches 15.0 mg kg−1. The results and their assessment can serve as a basis for future monitoring and measures to reduce pollution, restore the lake ecosystem and ensure the safety of fishery products for humans. © 2024 by the authors.

This study presents the results of an investigation into the effectiveness of microwave (MW) treatment (1) as a preconditioning method for technogenic raw materials (2) to enhance zinc (3) leaching (4) efficiency. Selective dielectric heating facilitates phase transformations (5), converting sphalerite (ZnS) into zinc oxide (ZnO), which exhibits significantly improved acid leachability. The response surface methodology (RSM) was utilized to evaluate critical operational variables, encompassing sulfuric acid concentration, leaching period, slurry density, and thermal conditions. The obtained results confirm the potential of MW treatment in hydrometallurgical processes, offering a sustainable and energy-efficient alternative for processing technogenic raw materials. © 2025 by the authors.

The filament for Fused Deposition Modeling technology was deve-lo ped in a new melt pressure pressing device using metal-polymer composite material. Phase analysis of metal-polymer composite material was carried out by X-ray di fraction. The material was subjected to XRD analysis in the 2θ, 3–90° range, and in Cu Kα radiation at 1.5408 Å and a pitch of 0.02° on a Rigaku MiniFlex. Thermogravimetric analysis was carried out in a Perkin Elmer Pyris instrument at a temperature range of 0 °C – 512.6 °C under a nitrogen atmosphere of 40 mL/min by volume. It was studied at what temperature the heaters in this device should be maintained. In addition, it was found that the metal powders contained in the metal-polymer composite material can be changed to adhesive powders by mechanical compression under a pressure of 18 MPa. The research was carried out under the grant No. AP08857034. © 2022, National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan. All rights reserved.

Plastic film mulching has long been used in agriculture to enhance productivity, resulting in the substantial input of microplastics derived from plastic film mulching (PFM–MPs) into agricultural soils. However, the impacts of these residues on soil remain unclear. Therefore, in this study, we investigated a 17-year mulched cotton field using integrated physical–chemical–microbiological analyses to explore how PFM–MPs influence the soil structure and microbial communities. The results show that PFM–MP abundance increased significantly with mulching duration (from 683.33 to 9633.33 items/kg) and was predominantly enriched in macroaggregates and mesoaggregates, with soil aggregate stability (mean weight diameter) increasing by approximately 7.8-fold. Multiple lines of analysis identified PFM–MPs as the dominant factor influencing aggregate stability. Furthermore, PFM–MPs enhanced interparticle cohesion by regulating the electrochemical properties of soil particle surfaces, thereby optimizing interparticle interactions and indirectly promoting aggregate stability through the accumulation of hydrophobic plasticizers (e.g., phthalate esters), which increased soil water repellency (contact angle: 9.73° → 23.10°). Amplicon sequencing of 16S rRNA genes revealed pronounced shifts in microbial community composition, characterized by increased relative abundances of Proteobacteria, Gemmatimonadetes, and Acidobacteriota; in addition, the Shannon diversity index increased significantly from 5.69 to 6.72. Finally, partial least squares path modeling clarified that PFM–MPs enhance aggregate stability primarily by modulating soil electrochemical properties and hydrophobicity, thereby altering microbial communities. In summary, there results fills a critical knowledge gap regarding the effects of PFM–MPs on soil aggregates and microbial communities in agricultural soils, thus inform evidence-based policies aimed at managing plastic pollution and ensuring sustainable agriculutural management. © 2025 Elsevier B.V.

The indicators of the SDGs are a description of the principles of sustainable development. An SDG indicator for preparing a professional workforce is decent work to support economic growth. Through the professional workforce certification program, it is hoped that workers will get decent jobs to increase economic growth and apply sustainable development principles. This study aims to: 1) determine the implementation of a professional workforce certification program in the construction sector to support sustainable development following the needs and regulations of the Government of Indonesia; and 2) how much is the percentage of readiness of professional workers in construction in participating in the labor certification program. This study uses a survey approach. The subject of this study is a professional workforce in Yogyakarta. The aspects of the assessed review were the sub-classification of professional building workers, the sub-classification of construction safety work professionals, and the sub-classification of construction management work professionals. Data were collected through questionnaires and interview techniques. The results of the tabulation of data were analyzed descriptively. The results of the study show that 1) the implementation of the professional workforce certification program in the construction sector in the sub-classification of building professional workers, sub-classification of construction safety professionals, and sub-classification of construction management professionals is in accordance with the principles of sustainable development, including environmental, social and economy; 2) the proportion of professional workforce readiness in the construction sector in participating in the certification program for the application of building work sub-classification is 95.45% (very high), construction safety work sub-classification is 83.33% (very high), and construction management work sub-classification by 89.39% (very high). © 2024 Author(s).

Sensor-driven shoulder exoskeletons are emerging as promising tools for post-stroke rehabilitation, offering scalable, adaptive, and patient-specific motor assistance. This systematic review analyzes 32 studies published between 2015 and April 2025, focusing on the integration of sensor modalities and control strategies in upper-limb exoskeletons targeting the shoulder complex. The review categorizes sensor types, including electromyography (EMG), inertial measurement units (IMUs), force/torque sensors, and kinematic sensors, and evaluates their role in motion tracking, user-intent detection, and feedback regulation. Control strategies are classified into five main groups: force- and admittance-based interaction control, adaptive and assist-as-needed control, human-in-the-loop control, passive support and gravity compensation, and machine-learning-based predictive control. Motor-driven actuation was the most prevalent approach, often paired with advanced control architectures. While multimodal sensor fusion enhances system responsiveness and personalization, most implementations remain in early development or validation stages, with limited clinical deployment. Challenges include sensor drift, bioelectrical signal variability, system complexity, and the need for regulatory approval. The review concludes by highlighting future directions in AI-driven control, wearable sensing, and closed-loop neurorehabilitation. These trends point toward a new generation of intelligent, user-centered exoskeletons capable of delivering high-quality therapy in both clinical and home settings. © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Permeability is a key transport property of porous materials, and its accurate evaluation is relevant when studying applied tasks, such as CO2 injection into reservoirs and investigating groundwater quality. This study examines the dependence of permeability on total and connected porosity, hydraulic tortuosity, specific surface area, and mean pore radius based on the data of 408 cubic sub-volumes extracted from heterogeneous and naturally fractured cylindrical carbonate samples, before and after injection of HCl solutions. These parameters were computed using pore-scale modeling of fluid flow. Our results show that permeability correlates well with porosity and mean pore radius, with correlation coefficients of (Formula presented.) for heterogeneous samples. It was found that the presence of natural fractures significantly influenced the relationship between permeability and other parameters. The relationship between permeability (Formula presented.), tortuosity (Formula presented.), and specific surface area (Formula presented.) is described by the power laws (Formula presented.) and (Formula presented.), with coefficients (Formula presented.) and (Formula presented.) substantially exceeding those in the Kozeny–Carman equation. It was also found that there is a parabolic relationship between connected and total porosities, both before and after rock dissolution with (Formula presented.). This allowed for an estimation of percolation threshold porosity in accordance with the literature data. © 2023 by the authors.

This review aims to increase attention on present water quality issues on Central Asia, finding gaps in the literature on ways to address treatment needs, and help ensure future use of Central Asia surface waters and groundwater for all beneficial uses. Central Asia is a landlocked region known for its harsh climatic conditions and scarce water resources, despite being home to some of the world’s largest internal drainage basins. The available literature suggests that increasing salinity has rendered water unsuitable for irrigation and consumption; hazardous trace elements are found throughout Central Asia, most often associated with mining and industrial sources; and that legacy pesticides influence water quality, particularly in agriculturally influenced basins. This study also focuses on the effects of municipal and industrial wastewater discharge. Additionally, the impact of inadequately treated wastewater on water resources is analyzed through a review of available data and reports regarding surface and groundwater quantity and quality. Given the challenges of water scarcity and accessibility, the reuse of treated wastewater is becoming increasingly important, offering a valuable alternative that necessitates careful oversight to ensure public health, environmental sustainability, and water security. However, due to insufficient financial and technical resources, along with underdeveloped regulatory frameworks, many urban areas lack adequate wastewater treatment facilities, significantly constraining their safe and sustainable reuse. Proper management of wastewater effluent is critical, as it directly influences the quality of both surface and groundwater, which serve as key sources for drinking water and irrigation. Due to their persistent and biologically active nature even at trace levels, we discuss contaminants of emerging concern such as antibiotics, pharmaceuticals, and modern agrochemicals. This review thus highlights gaps in the literature reporting on impacts of wastewater inputs to water quality in Central Asia. It is recommended that future research and efforts should focus on exploring sustainable solutions for water quality management and pollution control to assure environmental sustainability and public health. © 2025 by the authors.