Introduction: Surra, caused by Trypanosoma evansi (T. evansi), is a significant vector-borne disease of camels that leads to substantial economic losses in affected regions. This study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence of surra among dromedary (Camelus dromedarius) and Bactrian (Camelus bactrianus) camels in Kazakhstan. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out between January and May 2024 in the Mangystau, Kyzylorda, and Turkestan regions. A total of 2,773 camel serum samples (1,045 males and 1,728 females) were collected and tested using the complement fixation test (CFT) and the formol gel test (FGT). Chi-square tests were applied to assess differences across age groups, sexes, and regions. Results: Antibodies against T. evansi were detected in 113 camels (4.07%; 95% CI: 3.36–4.86) by CFT and in 276 camels (9.95%; 95% CI: 8.88–11.13) by FGT. Seroprevalence increased with age, with the highest rates observed in camels older than 12 years (5.93% by CFT and 26.27% by FGT). Females had significantly higher prevalence than males (CFT: 4.69% vs. 3.06%; FGT: 10.47% vs. 9.09%, p = 0.046). Regional variation was also noted, with the highest prevalence detected in Mangystau by FGT (65.0%). Discussion: These findings confirm that camel surra is endemic in the surveyed regions of Kazakhstan. Both serological tests proved useful for large-scale screening of T. evansi, and the FGT, due to its higher sensitivity, is recommended as the preferred tool for field surveillance.

In this article, the subject of investigation is high-voltage overhead transmission lines. As known, such lines exhibit the phenomenon of “conductor galloping.” Conductor galloping involves low-frequency oscillations with a significant amplitude, typically occurring during windy and icy conditions. These oscillations can be considered a factor that reduces the reliability of the power supply. This article aims to enhance the efficiency of using high-voltage overhead transmission lines under ice and wind conditions through the systematization of scattered information and knowledge, as well as the potential for discovering new directions in the study of conductor galloping. The analysis includes examining the results of multi-year statistical data observations on conductor galloping in power systems. Theoretical models of galloping are considered based on equations of dynamics and energy balance. Experimental data is obtained by observing a conductor galloping at a test site with the registration of vibration parameters. General reliability issues of overhead transmission lines are addressed. Results of statistical studies are analyzed, covering the complex conditions favoring the occurrence of conductor galloping, typical damages to elements of power lines, and an assessment of the expected intensity of galloping. The article presents the results from theoretical and experimental research, including physical and mathematical models of conductor galloping, conditions for instability of icy conductors in a wind flow, and some findings from experiments conducted at the test site. Methods to combat the phenomenon of “conductor galloping” are identified, providing a brief overview and analysis of existing measures to suppress conductor galloping. Suggestions are made for using the most effective and economical damper for conductor galloping in the split phase of the power line. The data presented in the article reveal key issues related to conductor galloping, existing methods for their resolution, and new avenues for researching this phenomenon and promising ideas.

Urban planning scholarship continues to confront the enduring tensions between modernist and postmodernist paradigms, yet comparative evaluations of their tangible impacts on urban form, social equity, and environmental sustainability remain limited. This study aims to address this critical gap by systematically examining the spatial and social implications of these divergent approaches. Utilizing a qualitative comparative case study methodology, the analysis focuses on two paradigmatic examples: Letchworth Garden City, an embodiment of modernist urbanism principles, and Downtown Beirut, a representation of postmodern urbanism. This study employs a qualitative comparative methodology grounded in theoretical discourse analysis and case study interpretation. Through a detailed investigation of spatial organization, social inclusivity, and ecological outcomes, the study elucidates each paradigm's distinct advantages and shortcomings. Findings indicate that modernist frameworks, exemplified by the Garden City model, are most effective when applied in new urban developments where comprehensive planning from a blank slate is feasible. Conversely, as illustrated by the Collage City concept, postmodernist approaches are better suited to existing urban contexts with rich historical identities, embracing complexity and layering. The study concludes that recognizing this contextual distinction is vital for advancing hybridized planning strategies that integrate the order and functionality of modernism with the pluralism and adaptability characteristic of postmodernism, thereby fostering equitable, resilient, and sustainable urban futures. © 2025 by authors, all rights reserved.

Deep Eutectic Solvents (DES) offer a sustainable solution to mitigating asphaltene deposition in oil production, minimizing environmental impact and enhancing the operational efficiency in the petroleum industry. The paper investigates the sustainable management of asphaltene deposition in oil production through the application of Deep Eutectic Solvents (DESs). Three DES formulations were prepared: DES1 (Citric acid:Glycerin, 1:4 ratio), DES2 (Citric acid:Ethylene Glycol, 1:4 ratio), and DES3 (Choline chloride:Glycerin, 1:2 ratio). The physical properties (pH, density, and viscosity) of these DESs were measured. The study utilized Karazhanbas crude oil from Western Kazakhstan, characterized by distinct hydrocarbon groups. The weight composition was as follows: Paraffin-naphthenic 17.2%, Aromatic (light) 10.2%, Aromatic (medium) 8.1%, Aromatic (heavy) 28.2%, Total resins 24.1%, and Asphaltenes 12.2%. The FTIR spectrum of the received DES and asphaltene was also determined. Asphaltene deposition was studied both with and without DES inhibitors. Microscopic tests revealed that DES3 exhibited superior results, as evidenced by significantly smaller asphaltene particle sizes compared to other DES formulations and the control without DES. The findings suggest that DES3 holds promise as an effective inhibitor for asphaltene deposition in oil production, offering a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach to address challenges associated with asphaltene-related issues in the petroleum industry. © Engineered Science Publisher LLC 2024.

Southern Kazakhstan is one of the fastest-growing regions of this country and continued development depends on a sustainable supply of freshwater for multiple purposes. Groundwater in Southern Kazakhstan occurs in a wide variety of hydrogeological conditions with varying levels of quality and vulnerability to contamination. The aim of this paper is to investigate the present groundwater quality through sampling and laboratory analysis of source water from public supply wells, compare results to hydrogeology and known contaminant sources, and indicate where future protections may be needed. Protection from surface-borne contaminants is mainly determined by the thickness of the vadose zone, depth of the groundwater level, presence, thickness and composition of aquifers, and mobility of pollutants. Forty-five wells were sampled, yielding 106 samples of groundwater presently used for drinking water, which were evaluated to investigate the occurrence of potential pollutants and hydrogeology of the region. Of the samples collected, 46 samples were used for analysis of inorganic water chemistry, 30 for individual indicators including metals, and 31 samples for determination of petroleum products. A contaminant inventory database and geospatial database aided the interpretation of the results and allowed the prediction of future water issues. Kazakhstan’s maximum permissible concentrations (MPCs) for metals were exceeded in areas associated with industrial enterprises, while fluoride and nitrate were more closely associated with mining and agricultural sources. Groundwater quality is dependent on hydrogeology and environmental contaminants resulting from historical land uses and must be regularly monitored for drinking water safety. Petroleum hydrocarbons were not detected in any of the drinking water sources.

Backfilling technology is not always used by mining enterprises, which is conditioned by technological and economic factors, such as the need for high mining rates and costs for the technological processes of transporting backfill materials from the daylight surface to the mined-out space. This concerns the underground mining of hard coal, which is a strategic energy resource, in the mines of Ukraine. This paper aims to study the effect of leaving the waste bottom rocks in the mined-out space of the longwall face without their drawing to the earth’s surface on the geomechanical state of the rocks surrounding the longwall face. The geomechanical assessment of the stress state of the rock mass surrounding the longwall face, when leaving the waste rocks from the seam bottom rocks in the mined-out space, is performed by the finite element method using the Ansys software package. A geomechanical model has been developed and substantiated, which adequately reflects the mining-geological conditions for seam mining within the extraction site, the actual structure and properties of the coal-bearing rock stratum, the parameters of the longwall face and the modified powered support for the processes of leaving the rocks in the mined-out space. The values and patterns have been determined of the decrease in the stress intensity concentrations in the coal-bearing roof mass in the frontal bearing pressure zone and destressing zone with an increase in the ratio of the rock pack thickness to the extracting seam thickness. The relative indicators of the load on the powered support section and the lowering of its roof have been determined by the ratio of the thickness of the rock pack formed in the mined-out space to the extracting seam thickness. The proposed mining method is of significant commercial and research interest for owners of coal mines developing thin coal seams because environmental costs for placing waste on the surface are reduced, and the energy potential of coal is increased due to the separation of waste rocks from coal in underground conditions. The need for a cycle of beneficiation of mined mass is eliminated and the geomechanical conditions of coal mining processes are improved. © 2022 by the authors.

The study investigates the concentration of chemical elements in biological tissues (placenta and blood) of women from the Akmola region, Kazakhstan to assess the impact of environmental pollution on maternal and newborn health. The research conducted from 2018 to 2021 involved 67 placental and umbilical cord blood samples collected from women in four Akmola districts. The study utilized instrumental neutron activation analysis and electronic microscopy to determine the concentration of 28 chemical elements. Statistical methods were applied to analyze the distribution, including the mean values, standard deviations, and frequency distribution curves. Significant variability in chemical element concentrations was observed across samples, with notable differences in rare earth elements and heavy metals. Elements such as sodium (Na), calcium (Ca), and chromium (Cr) displayed high variation. The study identified a strong environmental influence on the accumulation of toxic elements in the placenta and blood. The accumulation of chemical elements in biological tissues was heterogeneous, influenced by natural and anthropogenic factors. Blood was found to be more sensitive to environmental contamination compared to the placenta, indicating the need for enhanced environmental health monitoring in the region. © 2025 The authors.

Corporate social responsibility affects the financial efficiency of the company, but this influence is most significant under certain environmental conditions, demonstrating a tendency to improve the situation in macroeconomics. However, the very mechanism of such influence remains unexplored. For the practical application of corporate social responsibility for the company’s benefit, it is important to connect corporate social responsibility indicators, environmental parameters with financial metrics. The research purpose is to justify the concept of adaptive management of corporate social responsibility for quasi-public sector companies in the context of macroeconomics changing factors. Research methodology: general scientific methods of cognition: comparison, analysis and synthesis, as well as system-situational, dialectical, abstract-theoretical, structural-functional, and systemic. The study hypothesized that by introducing the impact of the quality of CSR management on the financial performance of a quasi-public sector company, it is possible to provide a high gross domestic product growth rate. The concept of corporate social responsibility management for companies in the quasi-public sector has been developed. It was stated that the largest numerical values of the coefficients for 2018 and 2019 are more than 0.7 units. It was during those years, in accordance with the research results, that low (less than 6 %) inflation and a high GDP growth rate (more than 5 %) took place. Using the concept will make it possible to implement a systematic approach in the management of corporate social responsibility and ensure the conditions for achieving goals in the company of the quasi-public sector © 2022. Authors. This is an open access article under the Creative Commons CC BY license

This study presents a numerical and experimental investigation of the thermal performance of borehole heat exchangers for ground source heat pump systems. A 3D model was developed for heat and mass transfer in soil and grout, coupled with 1D conductive and convective heat transfer through the pipe and circulating fluid. The model was implemented in COMSOL Multiphysics and validated using thermal response test data obtained from two 50 m-deep boreholes drilled in the Almaty region of Kazakhstan. The root-mean-square deviation between model predictions and TRT data was 0.184°C. The thermal conductivity of the soil (λg = 2.35W/mK) and thermal resistance (Rb = 0.20mK/W) were determined. Simulation results showed that spiral borehole heat exchangers provided the highest heat extraction and reduced drilling depth by 34.6% compared to single U-type. The model aids in optimizing borehole heat exchanger geometry and evaluating material properties for enhanced thermal efficiency. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2025.

The pressing issue of global warming, coupled with the increasing depletion of fossil fuels, highlights the necessity for sustainable energy solutions. In this context, hydrogen stands out as a viable option, possessing the capacity to revolutionize critical industries, including fuel cells, internal combustion engines, and gas turbines. An effective approach to enhancing numerous chemical and technological processes in liquid and steam–gas mixtures is the establishment of cavitation mixing zones for the reacting components. These zones are produced in specialized reactors that operate on the principles of hydrodynamic effects applied to the reaction medium. The study focused on the design of the cavitation-jet chamber utilizing the k– (Formula presented.) Turbulence Model and Particle Tracing Model. As a result, the influence of the inlet velocity on cavitation formation and the uniformity of mixing was investigated. Ripley’s K-function was used to analyze the results of particle distribution. The influence of the screw on flow turbulence and the uniformity of particles was evaluated. Analysis through the K-function indicated a decrease in uniformity at lower velocities, with noticeable turbulization of the flow occurring at high velocities, which facilitated better mixing. In contrast, without the screw, the flow exhibited a high longitudinal velocity and minimal transverse velocity, limiting particle dispersion to the radius of the nozzle and resulting in inefficient mixing. It was found that the inclusion of the screw not only enhanced particle distribution but also maintained the size of the cavitation zones, thereby improving the overall efficiency of the design.