In 2019, the Engineering and Seismometric Service Stations of Kazakh Scientific Research and Design Institute of Civil Engineering and Architecture JSC registered 3 Local Earthquakes with foci in Almaty city and adjacent areas of Almaty region. In September 2019, there were two earthquakes with foci near Almaty city. Earthquake accelerogram recorded in the substructure and upstairs of an 11-storey building with a steel frame, as well as on the 10th and 16th floors in a 17-storey building with a stiffening core were obtained on September 02, 2019, September 07, 2019. The buildings are located near tectonic faults. Spectral curves describing the frequency content of the seismic impact are constructed. It is established that the frequency behavior of the footing, composed of soils of the 2nd category in terms of seismic properties, are high-frequency with prevailing periods of 0.06–0.13 s. Resonance phenomena for flexible buildings were not observed in the local earthquakes indicated. Instrumental records are included in the database of accelerograms of Kazakh Scientific Research and Design Institute of Civil Engineering and Architecture JSC. The results of the work can be used in the calculation and design of buildings and structures in Almaty city. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

With the growing deficit of water resources, utilizing non-traditional water sources for irrigation has become crucial for stable crop and livestock production. In the Yenbekshikazakh district, favorable natural and climatic conditions have facilitated the development of cascades of seasonal regulation ponds. The construction and reconstruction of these ponds, integrated into water recycling systems, have significantly enhanced irrigated agriculture. This initiative has resolved water supply issues for the villages of Baiterek, Alga, and Koishibek, restoring 1,420 hectares of previously abandoned arable land and boosting agricultural productivity. The cascades have increased water availability by 25–30%, reducing reliance on traditional irrigation sources during dry periods, with a total storage capacity of 850,000 m³. Consequently, average crop yields have risen by 15– 18%, with wheat increasing from 2.5 t/ha to 3.1 t/ha, barley from 2.2 t/ha to 2.8 t/ha, and corn from 3.8 t/ha to 4.5 t/ha. Additionally, water availability has expanded fodder crop cultivation by 20–25%, enhancing livestock nutrition and decreasing dependence on imported feed. These measures support sustainable agricultural development and long-term food security in the region.

The authors regret, that when analyzing the primary spectra of the mass spectrometer, namely the dependences of the change in pressure of gases with mass number M4, a significant inaccuracy was made - the different probability of ionization of helium and the HT molecule was not taken into account, which led to an incorrect assessment of the equilibrium release of tritium from the ceramics. To maintain the exact meaning, it was necessary to make a change to the article of the following nature: the graphs in Fig. 10 (which shows the results of simulation tritium release at the initial stage of the experiments) were renormalized in accordance with the updated data on tritium release (the shape of the graphs did not change, but the range of fluxes tritium release is now indicated correctly). Corrected Fig. 10 is shown below. Also, in the “Acknowledgments” section the program number should be read as No. BR21881930. The authors would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused.

This study investigates the distribution of 137Cs, 90Sr, 241Am, and 239+240Pu in soil micro-aggregate fractions of various sizes in a waterstream area emerging through a tunnel cavity at the Degelen site of the Semipalatinsk Test Site, where an underground nuclear test was conducted. The objective was to identify radionuclides distribution patterns in soil micro-aggregate fractions and key mechanisms of radioactive soil contamination resulting from prolonged contact with contaminated water. Results show that radionuclides distribution among soil micro-aggregate fractions is uneven and depends on fraction size and composition. Mineral components (40–1000 μm sand particles) are significantly depleted in radionuclides, while organic matter (partially decomposed plant residues, humus) demonstrates high accumulation, especially of 239+240Pu. A general trend was observed indicating that radionuclides concentration, especially 137Cs, increases with decreasing particle size. However, this pattern is less expressed for 90Sr, 241Am, and 239+240Pu due to their significant enrichment in organic matter. Thus, sorption processes in the “soil-water” system, increasing radionuclide accumulation as particle size decreases, and the formation of organic substances with uniformly high radionuclide content, which tends to level out typical sorption trends, are identified as the main mechanisms shaping radionuclide distribution in soil micro-aggregate fractions. Additionally, the presence of highly radioactive individual particles (“hot” particles) may locally enhance enrichment of particular fractions.

Biogas, derived from human waste or industrial byproducts, is considered one of the most environmentally acceptable fuels. However, such fuels often exhibit relatively low efficiency, making it essential to develop technologies that facilitate their effective combustion. This article investigates the combustion of biogas with the addition of hydrogen at varying degrees of flow swirling. For this purpose, a burner was used in which methane, hydrogen and CO2 were mixed in a mixer. The studies revealed that increasing the proportion of hydrogen in biogas leads to an average 15% rise in the NOx concentration. Additionally, an increase in the degree of swirling has a positive effect on NOx generation. On the other hand, a higher proportion of hydrogen reduces the concentration of CO in the exhaust gases. The presence of ballast gases, such as CO2, generally results in relatively low NOx levels when combined with a high swirling number. The analysis of combustion products for CO2 indicates a 14% increase in CO2 proportion. The highest concentrations of CO2 were observed in biogas with the highest CO2 ballast content. In terms of reducing NOx and CO, SW = 1.3 is the most successful. On the other hand, this angle leads to an increase in the CO2 concentration. © 2025 by the authors.

Water scarcity and contamination are critical global concerns, with organic pollutants such as dyes, phenolic compounds, pharmaceuticals, and pesticides increasingly entering aquatic systems and posing serious risks to ecosystems and human health. Among various treatment technologies, photocatalysis has emerged as a sustainable and effective strategy for wastewater purification, particularly for degrading persistent organic contaminants. However, conventional metal-semiconductor photocatalysts suffer from inherent drawbacks, including limited visible-light absorption, sluggish surface kinetics, and rapid electron–hole recombination, which restrict their large-scale applicability. These challenges can be addressed by incorporating graphene and its derivatives graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) which provide high surface area, excellent electron mobility, and tunable chemical functionality, making them ideal co-catalyst supports. Unlike numerous reviews that broadly summarize graphene-based photocatalysts, the present work adopts a pollutant-specific comparative framework. It systematically evaluates the performance of graphene, GO, and rGO-based composites in degrading four major categories of contaminants: dyes, phenolic compounds, pharmaceuticals, and pesticides. Special emphasis is placed on understanding the role of operational parameters such as pH, oxidizing agents, light wavelength, photocatalyst dosage, and pollutant concentration in influencing degradation outcomes. Mechanistic insights, recyclability, and efficiency trends are critically examined through case studies, highlighting both synergies and limitations across pollutant classes. By adopting this targeted approach, the review not only underscores key advancements but also identifies existing knowledge gaps, offering valuable perspectives for designing next-generation graphene-based photocatalysts tailored to specific water pollutants. © 2025 The Authors

The following article studies research on cognitive technologies and their application in the transportation of mining waste. Special attention is paid to the development and implementation of intelligent systems which are able to automate the processes of monitoring, analysis and waste recycling. There were discussed the examples of using machine learning and artificial intelligence to improve the efficiency of waste management, minimize their negative impact on the environment and improve the economic indexes of companies. Cognitive technologies allow transport companies to expand their functions in summarizing and processing huge volumes of structured and unstructured data, use machine learning tools for data analysis, execute queries and get the most accurate answers, at the same time ensuring the safety of cargo. In order to increase the effectiveness and speed of transportation, customer service at all stages and at the same time reduce the effect of the “human factor”, it is necessary to develop an offer that will be most optimal for everyone. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2025.

The development of an active ankle prosthesis aims to overcome the limitations of traditional passive prostheses by introducing dynamic and adaptive functionalities, enhancing mobility, stability, and comfort for individuals with lower limb amputations. This paper presents the conceptual framework of a CAD-modelled active ankle prosthesis, specifically designed to improve walking efficiency. The proposed prosthesis integrates biomechanical principles to replicate natural gait while employing advanced control systems for real-time adaptability and rapid response to movement variations. Key components of the design include an electric-driven actuation mechanism for dynamic foot bending system, a robust control system, and an ergonomic structure that ensures user comfort and safety. The prosthesis is constructed using Nylon 6 (PA6), which has a Modulus of Elasticity (E) of 8.3 GPa (8.3 × 10⁹ N/m2) and a Poisson’s Ratio (ν) of 0.28. These material properties are crucial for maintaining structural integrity and mechanical performance under different loading conditions. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2025.

The test of the hydrogen generator on the internal combustion engine of the car is considered in the work. In the machine, HHO and fuel are jointly burned to reduce fuel consumption and exhaust emissions. Numerous studies prove the undeniable advantage of using a car using a hydrogen generator compared to traditional fuels. The use of a lean combustible mixture in internal combustion engines reduces the volume of exhaust gases and increases thermal efficiency. Experimental results show that by adding KOH with a concentration of (35-50 g/l) to the cell, fuel consumption can be reduced (8.4-43.6%), and exhaust pollutant emissions are reduced. Thus, adding hydrogen to an internal combustion engine can reduce fuel consumption and vehicle exhaust emissions.

The growing environmental and energy crises have prompted researchers to seek new solutions, including large-scale photocatalytic environmental remediation and the production of solar hydrogen using photocatalytic materials. To achieve this goal, scientists have developed numerous photocatalysts with high efficiency and stability. However, the large-scale application of photocatalytic systems under real-world conditions is still limited. These limitations arise at every step, including the large-scale synthesis and deposition of photocatalyst particles on a solid support, and the development of an optimal design with high mass transfer and efficient photon absorption. The purpose of this article is to provide a detailed description of the primary challenges and potential solutions encountered in scaling up photocatalytic systems for use in large-scale water and air purification and solar hydrogen production. Additionally, based on a review of current pilot developments, we draw conclusions and make comparisons regarding the main operating parameters that affect performance, as well as propose strategies for future research. © 2023 Elsevier B.V.