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The primary data of micro- and macroplastics in the aquatic environment of Lake Markakol, located in the mountainous area of East Kazakhstan, are presented. The determination of micro- and macroplastics in water is based on sieving, drying, liquid oxidation, density separation and visual sorting using a microscope with a magnification of 40×. The detected plastic fragments in the aquatic environment include fishing line nets, Styrofoam balls, plastic bags, plastic bottles, wrappers, food labels and packages and other types of plastic waste. The sizes of the plastic fragments were ˃25 mm, 1.0–5.0 mm and 0.315–1.0 mm. The concentration of plastic in Lake Markakol was 837.5 µg/m3 in the tributaries and 482.1 µg/m3 in the lake water. The detected plastic mainly corresponded to sieve mesh sizes of 1.0–5.0 mm and 0.315–1.0 mm. The main sources of plastic pollution are fishing, tourism and the lack of adequate infrastructure for household waste management. These data emphasize the importance of measures to regulate plastic waste management in order to preserve the Lake Markakol ecosystem and maintain human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was conducted in 2023 and comprised a comparative assessment of the state of Lake Markakol's aquatic ecosystems in surface and bottom water strata. The analysis of bottom water temperatures showed correlation between this parameter and dissolved oxygen concentrations, indicating that pollution caused by organic impurities leads to lake eutrophication, in turn, propelling the extinction of aquatic life. Although the main water physicochemical parameters of Markakol Lake correspond to the oligotrophic type, the shifts in dissolved oxygen and phosphate content, as well as growth of aquatic vegetation indicate its transition to the mesotrophic type. Higher phosphate content in water is a consequence of pollution disturbing the biological balance, as well as stimulating the reservoir's eutrophication and increased biological productivity, i.e. algal bloom. In addition, phosphate ions serve an informative indicator of Hazard Class 3 (organoleptically hazardous) anthropogenic pollution. Based on the correlation factor (r), two statistical models were considered for the target lake: 1) Water Pollution: nutri-ent concentrations depending on surface and bottom water temperatures (Model 1); and 2) changes in Water Pollution Indices (biogenic, heavy metals, mean) because of air temperature growth due to global warming of 0.25°C/decade (Model 2). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a consequence of global climate change and the resultant recurring periods of drought and water scarcity, the ecological status of irrigated lands in southern Kazakhstan has deteriorated. One of the largest massifs in terms of area is Myrzashol, located in the south of the Turkestan region. Field experimental studies have been conducted on this array over the past 25 years. Experimental work was carried out on saline, abandoned, old-irrigated lands of this massif. As a result of the development of secondary salinization and salinization of soils, the area of irrigated lands with varying degrees of salinity increased from 50.4 to 99.2 thousand hectares or 2 times. In all, the irrigated area under consideration contains approximately 147.0 thousand hectares of land. Of this area, 67% has varying degrees of salinity. An increase in the concentration of salts in the soil not only reduces crop yields, but also disrupts the soil structure and porosity. This, in turn, negatively impacts the soil's water permeability. As a result, the land with such soils is excluded from agricultural production due to low productivity and ineffective irrigation. This article presents the results of fi eld studies to determine the effect of irrigation with mineralised collector-drainage water (CDW) on the yield of cotton and alfalfa using CDW with a mineralisation of 2.4 to 4.0 gram/litre (g/l). A control site was used for comparison, where these crops were irrigated using fresh irrigation water with mineralization levels of up to 0.5 g/l. Additionally, we explored the feasibility of using collected water for the irrigation of agricultural crops. Based on the fi ndings from fi eld experiments, it has been concluded that using CDW with sulphate-type mineralisation levels up to 4.0 g/l to irrigate cotton and salt-resistant alfalfa forage crops on saline soils can lead to production yields of 27.1 centners per hectare (hereinafter -- c/ha) and 155.0 c/ha for cotton and alfalfa, respectively, without depleting valuable freshwater resources. These harvests are considered lucrative for this type of land without requiring the use of fresh water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our experiment focuses on generating simulated high-resolution (HR) Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images from the photogrammetric 3D model derived from Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) imagery. The goal is to match these simulated images with real SAR data of complex scenes containing vegetation, buildings, roads, and the construction of receiving antennas. Simulated SAR reflectivity map was based on ray tracing techniques.Two feature matching algorithms, namely Scale-Invariant Feature Transform (SIFT) and Oriented FAST and Rotated BRIEF (ORB) were employed for co-registration of the simulated to the real SAR images. The effectiveness of these algorithms is evaluated by their matching rates. The experiment results of the matching process highlight the superior performance of ORB over SIFT, attributed to its robustness against rotation variations and noise. ORB emerges as a versatile choice for high-resolution real and simulated SAR registration tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Looting is one of the biggest threats to archaeology and cultural heritage and archaeologists had been struggling with this problem for decades. Help to deal with this threat, we carried out an experiment in Wuhan / China and created our own artifical looting holes by digging two holes and shaping them in different measurements while collecting TerraSAR-X images from the experiment area. Our study aims creating simulated SAR images of looting holes, in the light of the information we obtained from our experiment. Parameters of collected SAR images and 3D models of the artificial holes will be foundation of the work with SAR simulation. Since field work is money and time consuming duty, simulating SAR images of looting hole is advantageous and benefitial since we can play with the 3D models and change their geometry. In this study we obtain SAR simulation images by using our 3D models of the looting holes. By using simulation, we are able to change the geometry of the hole and even possible to implement natural effects to the 3D model which is effective on results. Thus, assessment of the looting holes will become much more simple work and it will help to protection of cultural heritage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The asymptomatic progression of chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity poses a significant risk to breast cancer patients. In the present single-center cohort study, a predictive model for evaluating the risk of cardiotoxicity during or by the end of chemotherapy was designed. The risk-prediction nomogram was delineated and assessed. In total, 34 patients out of 120 developed asymptomatic cardiotoxicity (28.3%). Of six explored biomarkers, only B-type natriuretic peptide showed a reliable pattern of incremental increase, revealing statistical significance between cardiotoxicity "+" and "−" groups by visit 4 or by the 9th month of monitoring (p 0.006). The following predictors were included in the model: age, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, baseline glomerular filtration rate, 6 min walk test measured at visit 4, BNP values at visit 4, left ventricular ejection fraction levels at visit 4, a total dose of radiotherapy received, and anthracycline cumulative doses. The model's AUC was 0.72 (95% CI 0.59; 0.86), evidencing the satisfactory predictive ability of the model; sensitivity 100% (95% CI 90.36; 100.0) at a specificity of 66.67% (95% CI 50.33; 79.79); PPV 54.1% [95% CI 47.13; 60.91]; PVN 100% [95% CI 94.64; 100.00]. The calibration plot showed satisfactory agreement between predicted and actual chances (p = 0.98). The designed model can be applied in settings lacking speckle tracking echocardiography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

River delta soils are the final spatial units of the matter flow within the whole river catchment. Due to their spatial position in the catchment and due to their fine grain size composition, river delta soils are important matter sinks in general, especially for heavy metals. The article presents the results of spectrometric analysis of heavy metals in the soils of the Ili River Delta and State Natural Reserve "Ili-Balkhash" in 2021. This area is included in the list of wetlands of international importance under the Convention on Wetlands. Heavy metals in the samples were determined using the flame atomic absorption spectrometric method using the AA-7000 atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The spatial distribution of the metals was visualized in the ArcGIS 10.5 environment. Copper concentrations were measured in the soils of the dry steppe, semi-desert and desert zones with average values up to 28.5 mg kg−1 and a maximum level of 75.1 mg kg−1. The concentrations of lead are 8.0–15.9 mg kg−1. The cadmium content exceeds the standards from 2.1 to 6.5 mg kg−1 on the whole territory at MPC 2.0 mg kg−1, reaching up to 3.3 MPC (Maximum Permissible Concentration). The cobalt concentration ranges from 6.7 to 20.6 mg kg−1, and nickel ranges from 11.3 to 22.2 mg kg−1. Soil contamination due to cobalt and nickel is observed in the northern and eastern parts of the study area. The received data about pollution of the soil cover by heavy metals makes it possible to assess the degree of anthropogenic load of the unique natural environment in the Ili River Delta and natural reserve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. To establish the feasibility of refining deep open-pit mines below the boundary of the use of combined motor-conveyor transport with an increased slope angles of the pit walls using the developed transport unit for reloading rocks to overlying horizons during the reactivation of pillars under transport berms. Methodology. Preparation of a digital block model of the deposit, the elaboration of 3D geomechanical models for the dynamics of mining, 2D and 3D numerical simulation of the rock stress-strain state of the outcrops of opencast workings, mathematical modeling of stepwise ore reserves and mining schedule, patent research and feasibility study. Findings. It is advisable to carry out mining in terms of the marginal rock state with an increase in the slope of the pit sides below the limit of application of the cyclic and continuous method in ultra-deep open pits. Such design of pit sides is achieved when benches are mined from top to bottom within the boundaries of steeply inclined layers with the use of inter-bench loaders of the developed designed in the completion zone. Provisions for the selection and feasibility of using the loader in the deep zone are formulated based on demarcation of application zones of cyclic (road transport) and cyclic-flow (combined road-conveyor transport) technologies. Originality. Schematization of the mining operation was performed based on the calculated values of safety factor of sides, which allows increasing the slope angles of the pit walls of even ultra-deep open pits in the completion zone. It was found that with deepening of mining, the zones of potential sliding move away from the loose overburden to lower ore benches closer to the final depth of the Kacharsky open pit (760 m), but the safety factor corresponds to the required value according to the design standards. Practical value. An increase in the slope of the pit walls in the completion zone can be achieved using the developed loading installation, the main difference of which is that it can be moved without dismantling under conditions of reactivation of transport pillars (with an increase in lifting height by 1.5–4.5 times compared to the known equipment). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. A methodology development for predicting the geomechanical situation when mining an ore deposit with steepdipping layers, taking into account the uncertainty in determining the rock properties, which is a consequence of the rock mass heterogeneity. Methods. The assessment of the open-pit wall stability is based on a combination of numerical simulation of the rock stress-strain state (SSS) and probabilistic analysis. The finite element method is used to determine the changes in the SSS that occur at various stages of mining operations due to design changes in the overall open-pit slope angle. The elastic-plastic model of the medium and the Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion are implemented in the codes of the 3D finite element analysis program RS3 (Rocscience). Stochastic simulation is used to assess random risks associated with natural object state variations. Findings. The distribution of maximum shear strains, which localizes the real or potential sliding surfaces in the open-pit wall at various stages of ore mining, has been identified. Based on the Shear Strength Reduction procedure, the open-pit wall Strength Reduction Factor (SRF) has been determined. The probabilities of open-pit wall stability loss, as well as the decrease in the strength reduction factor below the standard level at all stages of the ore body mining, have been revealed. Originality. For the first time, for real mining-geological conditions of a deep ore open pit, the dependence of the strength reduction factor on the overall wall slope angle, which changes during mining of each steep layer, has been determined. For each stage of mining operations, for the first time, the probability of a decrease in the open-pit wall stability below the standard level has been determined based on stochastic simulation. Practical implications. The ratio between the open-pit contour characteristic (overall slope angle) and the probabilistic safety factor is the basis for practical solutions to ensure the efficiency and safety of mining at various stages of friable and hard overburden excavation, ore extraction, as well as for the subsequent optimization of the open-pit design contours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The issue of developing effective legal regulation of waste management and implementation of best practices in this area is relevant for many countries of the world. In the Republic of Kazakhstan, the development of a regulatory framework for waste management is still in its infancy. This situation poses a potential threat to the environment and public health. The question of this study is what are the obstacles to the effective implementation of international agreements in the field of waste management in Kazakhstan? What international legal instruments in the field of waste management are not fully used and what legislative initiatives need to be implemented in this regard? In order to assess the applicability of their regulations to the conditions of Kazakh law, the study examines such supranational legal instruments as, in particular, the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal, the Espoo Convention, Directive (EU) 2018/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council. As this study suggests, an impending problem for Kazakhstan is the issue of utilization of WEEE and the implementation of the Basel Convention regarding the issue of transportation and disposal of WEEE. Despite the growing interest in the issues of proper waste management, mechanisms related to the implementation of the Espoo Convention and the Aarhus Convention are poorly implemented in Kazakhstan. This study uses the method of political and legal analysis, with the help of which it examines the problems of the effectiveness of the implementation of international agreements in the field of waste management in the Republic of Kazakhstan and ways to overcome them. To achieve these goals, international legislative acts in the field of environmental protection and the legislation of the European Union and EU member states were analyzed, which made it possible to determine the possibility of applying foreign practices on legal regulation of waste management and implementation of international legal acts mechanisms in Kazakhstan. The study attempts to give a qualitative assessment of the elaboration of the legislative regulation of the waste management sphere in Kazakhstan. The solution of problems in the field of waste management at the state level can be feasible only with a systemic rather than partial reform of the legal framework. Based on the EU practices in the implementation of international and supranational environmental agreements, the optimal combination of state and market instruments would improve the regulatory framework of Kazakhstan in the field of waste management. In order to create the most beneficial effect in countering the accumulation of waste without harming the economy, it would be useful to apply proactive and preventive approaches to increase the responsibility and participation of all stakeholder groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper relates to environment-friendly polyurethane dispersion having a high solids content of polyurethane polymer based on aromatic isocyanate. A series of water dispersion polyurethanes (PUDs) were prepared by polyaddition reaction using toluene diisocyanate (TDI), poly(oxytetramethylene) glycol (PTMG), and dimethylol propionic acid (DMPA). Physico-mechanical properties of PUDs were studied by average particle size, viscosity, contact angle, tensile strength and elongation. IR spectroscopy was used to check the end of polymerization reaction and characterization of polymer. Results revealed that tensile strength, tear strength, hardness, contact angle and viscosity increase with increase of the amount of TDI, PTMG and DMPA in the PUDs. Elongation at break and average particle size decrease with increase of TDI, PTMG and DMPA. The increase of physico-mechanical properties are attributable to the increase of free NCO content and hard segment in the prepolymer of high content of TDI, PTMG and DMPA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]