Over the last three decades, there has been a notable transformation in urban growth patterns in Kazakhstan’s large cities, particularly in Almaty. While this can be traced back to market-oriented planning agendas, the increasing fragmentation of the public realm in cities can be linked to the recent residential development projects. The rise of these projects in post-Soviet neighbourhoods is often criticised due to their typology, as developers create them as gated communities. These patterns’ socio and spatial fragmentation is associated with fewer opportunities for social interaction between Soviet neighbourhoods and the more recent exclusive communities. Therefore, this paper investigates the key issues present in the urban patterns of Almaty city that can hinder the creation of a more cohesive society. It presents a case study of other Soviet-developed neighbourhoods with similar development patterns. The study’s methodology includes morphological mapping, observation of the use of the public realm and a survey of residents to support the findings. The investigation focuses on one of the typical urban patterns of mixed-use Soviet neighbourhoods and recent urban residential blocks, where an opportunity lies for perspective communities. The research reveals a lack of social cohesion between local communities due to mono-functional land use, poor permeability and accessibility that fragmented the city into closed neighbourhoods. The research dives into the core issues of Soviet and post-Soviet urban morphology’s outcomes in the public realm and the impact on social life in these neighbourhoods. © Universiti Putra Malaysia Press.

This study aims to obtain CoZn nanostructures using the electrochemical deposition method and to estimate the applicability of the resulting nanostructures as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries. Scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive and X-ray phase analysis were used as the main methods for characterizing the obtained nanostructures. A study of the morphological properties of the synthesized nanostructures revealed that the variation of the synthesis conditions results in the formation of structures with different degrees of structural ordering and morphology. During the evaluation of the phase composition of the synthesized CoZn nanostructures with variation in the applied potential differences, the phase transformations’ dynamics were established, which can be written as follows: X-ray amorphous structures → Zn/CoO2 → Co2Zn11/Co/CoO2 → Co2Zn11/ZnO. Using the methods of phase analysis and mapping, an isotropic distribution of phases in the composition of nanostructures was established. In such a case, the formation of the Co2Zn11 phase occurs with an elevation in the concentration of cobalt from 8.9 to 29.3–31.1 at. % leads to the partial substitution of zinc ions by cobalt ions, followed by the formation of a cubic phase. The study of the morphological properties of the synthesized CoZn nanostructures afterlife tests showed differences in the degradation processes of nanowires triggered by the phase composition alteration. © 2023 by the authors.

In sequential pumping, several liquids with different physical and chemical properties are pumped through one pipeline. The advantages of this method include: using one pipeline to transport different liquids; more complete pipeline loading; and reduced cost of pumping. The paper considers the sequential pumping of two batches of oil blends with different physicochemical properties through an industrial oil pipeline. This is because a batch of high-paraffin oil blend is simultaneously pumped to an oil refinery, and a batch of high-viscosity oil blend is transported further along a pipeline. The difference between the thermal-physical and rheological properties of oil batches imposes a condition on the thermal mode of operation of an industrial pipeline. A mathematical model and algorithm have been created for calculating the sequential transportation of high-paraffin and high-viscosity oil blends. Thermohydraulic calculations of the model show the distribution of hydraulic head, pressure, and temperature of the batches under the operating conditions of pumping units and heating furnaces. The verification and validation of the theoretical analysis was carried out with experimental data measured by the SCADA along the industrial pipeline length. By the thermal mode of sequential pumping, optimal heating temperatures of oil blends were found at the industrial pipeline stations.

The air quality within urban public transport is a critical determinant of passenger health. In the crowded and poorly ventilated cabins of Almaty’s metro, buses, and trolleybuses, concentrations of CO2 and PM2.5 often accumulate, elevating the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. This study investigates the air quality along three of the city’s busiest transport corridors, analyzing how the concentrations of CO2, PM2.5, and PM10, as well as the temperature and relative humidity, fluctuate with the passenger density and time of day. Continuous measurements were collected using the Tynys mobile IoT device, which was bench-calibrated against a commercial reference sensor. Several machine learning models (logistic regression, decision tree, XGBoost, and random forest) were trained on synchronized environmental and occupancy data, with the XGBoost model achieving the highest predictive accuracy at 91.25%. Our analysis confirms that passenger occupancy is the primary driver of in-cabin pollution and that these machine learning models effectively capture the nonlinear relationships among environmental variables. Since the surveyed routes serve Almaty’s most densely populated districts, improving the ventilation on these lines is of immediate importance to public health. Furthermore, the high-temporal-resolution data revealed short-term pollution spikes that correspond with peak ridership, advancing the current understanding of exposure risks in transit. These findings highlight the urgent need to combine real-time monitoring with ventilation upgrades. They also demonstrate the practical value of using low-cost IoT technologies and data-driven analytics to safeguard public health in urban mobility systems. © 2025 by the authors.

Achieving solar-to-hydrogen (STH) conversion efficiencies above 10 % is within reach with silicon carbide (SiC), a wide-bandgap semiconductor offering unique properties for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. This review integrates recent advances in novel van der Waals heterostructure designs, Janus-based SiC composites, and eco-friendly synthesis routes to improve efficiency and scalability. In addition, it provides a systematic correlation of density functional theory (DFT) predictions with experimental performance metrics, highlighting critical gaps and optimization pathways. Additionally, comprehensive modeling of electronic structures, band alignments, and surface reactions to optimize SiC-based configurations, including type-II heterojunctions with materials such as MoS2 and TiO2. Key performance metrics, such as photocurrent density and STH efficiencies, are evaluated alongside experimental advancements. Despite significant progress, challenges such as long-term photoelectrode stability, scalable fabrication, and cost reduction persist. We discuss strategies to address these issues, including eco-friendly etching techniques and novel material combinations, and propose future research directions. This review highlights that SiC-based tandem systems achieve STH efficiencies up to 6.3 % and stability exceeding 100 days, with DFT modeling suggesting potential beyond 10 % © 2025 The Authors

The exceptional mechanical and chemical properties exhibited by scandium, characterized by its low density, high strength, and remarkable resistance to corrosion, have positioned it as a sought-after metal in diverse industrial applications. Consequently, a surge in market demand for scandium has been observed, highlighting its unique attributes compared to other metals. The Republic of Kazakhstan has identified potential sources of scandium in the waste generated by the titanium, uranium, and aluminum industries. By implementing efficient processing techniques for these production wastes, the country can effectively address the deficit of scandium while also mitigating man-made emissions, thus significantly improving the environmental landscape. This article aims to explore and evaluate contemporary methodologies that have been employed for the recovery of scandium from the aforementioned secondary sources. By examining and analyzing these techniques, we can gain insights into the most effective and sustainable approaches to harnessing scandium from waste materials in Kazakhstan. This research not only contributes to meeting market demands but also ensures the responsible utilization of scandium, benefiting not just the country's economy but also its environmental sustainability. © 2024, Complex Use of Mineral Resources. All rights reserved.

Kazakhstan is embarking on a fresh approach to managing waste, aiming to recycle and repurpose solid household waste while integrating innovative, eco-friendly technologies for its treatment and disposal. The main goal is to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills and instead convert it into more stable forms, lessening its harmful impact on the environment. This effort requires a comprehensive strategy, especially as existing landfills still need to be managed and rehabilitated when they reach capacity. It is essential to use municipal solid waste as a resource for producing various goods, which not only helps in landfill management but also aligns with principles of sustainability. This approach aligns with circular economic principles and helps to reduce the technological impact of landfills on the surrounding environment. The main types of waste in the Aktas landfill were identified as a result of this research: it is glass, of which only 3% is recycled. In our results, the setup allowed for the extraction of valuable components from the fine fraction, which can then be recycled. This enriches the organic material ready for composting (organo-mineral raw material mixture) with food waste. © 2024 by the authors.

Geothermal energy resources, as well as other types of renewable sources of energy, have the ability to satisfy almost any consumer in terms of potential and quality of energy. The utilization of geothermal sources is always based on a geological study. In order to determine whether a particular location has the potential to supply geothermal heat for industrial and domestic needs, a preliminary search is required. This feature is one of the main differences between geothermal energy and other renewable energy sources. Prospecting and exploration for geothermal groundwater was carried out in the Zharkent basin area in order to assess the exploitable reserves of thermal groundwater. On the territory of Zharkent geothermal field there are several wells, which are of interest for use as a source of energy. Two promising geothermal wells were identified ― No. 1RT and 3T, for which research was conducted. © 2023, National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan. All rights reserved.

Mathematical simulation of temperature distribution on double-sided solar cells has been carried out. Differences in the configuration of photoelectric converters prove to solely amount to the fact that a double-sided solar cell has a more efficient heat sink at the rear side. Furthermore double-sided solar cells exhibit higher power conversion performance. Calculations confirm the correctness of giving preference to double-sided solar cells which is of great importance for the photoelectric converter design developed by us. Analysis of market-available photovoltaic technologies of solar energy to electric power conversion has led to the development of a photovoltaic converter on the basis of double-sided silicon heterojunction solar cells. The configuration developed is a moving platform having a photovoltaic cell array mounted on it and a light flux collector. A double-axis tracking system has been developed for the general case of planar attachment of solar cell modules. A 350 mm stroke drive provides for movement in the north-south direction and a 450 mm stroke drive, in the east-west direction. The task has been outlined to find the required arm for providing symmetrical positioning at the maximum rotation angle about the axis. As a result, technical solutions have been developed for the north-south and the east-west directions. Furthermore a schematic wiring diagram has been designed to implement the preset solar tracking system algorithm. The system is also fitted with a GPS/GLONASS module for system precision positioning and time synchronization. © 2022 National University of Science and Technology MISiS.

Contemporary teaching, learning and assessment processes involve more information and communication technologies. The main goal of using information technologies in the educational process is to improve the quality of education by individualization and strengthening intellectual capabilities of students in the information society. This research considered the information communication technology use in higher education institutions of Kazakhstan, exploring its benefits for students and suggesting possible solutions for the problems arising with ICT implementation. For the purpose of this paper a small fragment of students' survey out of the ongoing research project was used. 558 students from various Kazakh universities were surveyed. One of the questions concerned IT development and digitalization level of the universities, because it enhances students' inclination for innovation and entrepreneurship. According to survey results forty three percent of students think that their universities have been sufficiently digitalized. Other forty percent remained neutral, and seventeen percent complained about the ICT equipment, which means that universities should address this issue to remain competitive. The research contributes to previous studies by focusing on students' attitudes toward ICT implementation. It describes both advantages and disadvantages of the ICT in education, and tries to summarize the current conditions of Kazakhstani higher education. For the successful policy implementation, the suggestions should come from the bottom. Therefore, the students' hands-on knowledge and experience with ICT implementation should be taken into consideration and could be helpful for further integration into educational process. © 2022 IEEE.