Ensuring food security in Kazakhstan in modern economic conditions

Food security occupies a special place in the system of national security of Kazakhstan, since the availability of food serves as a basic indicator of human activity. The country’s maximum participation in the international division of labor in the agro­industrial complex depends on solving the problem of food security. The choice of directions is determined by economic opportunities of the country, its role in the world, conducting of domestic agro­food policy, determination of advanced development strategy of agroindustrial complex, its basic branch – agriculture. Kazakhstan is the largest exporter of grain and takes leading place in the world in flour export. Thanks to good harvests in recent years, Kazakhstan was able to strengthen its ability to stabilize prices in the markets of Central Asia, Russian Federation, the Middle East, Europe and the Caucasus and improve its own prospects in terms of food security in the adjacent regions. The agriculture of Kazakhstan is in urgent need of modernization of its material and technical base, more advanced technologies and more effective and targeted state support, without which its dynamic development observed in recent years will be at risk.

Advance Aerobic Granular Sludge Development for the Treatment of Low Strength Wastewater

The aim of the present study was to assess the start-up performance of aerobic granular sludge for the treatment of low-strength (COD <200 mg L−1) domestic wastewater by the application of a diatomite carrier. The feasibility was evaluated in terms of the start-up period and stability of the aerobic granules as well as COD and phosphate removal efficiencies. A single pilot-scale Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) was used and operated separately for the control granulation and granulation with diatomite. Complete granulation (granulation rate ≥ 90%) was achieved within 20 days for the case of diatomite with an average influent COD concentration of 184 mg L−1. In comparison, control granulation required 85 days to accomplish the same feat with a higher average influent COD concentration (253 mg L−1). The presence of diatomite solidifies the core of the granules and enhances physical stability. Diatomite granules recorded the strength and SVI of 18 IC and 53 mL/g SS which clearly superior to control granulation (19.3 IC, 81 mL/g SS). Quick start-up and achievement of stable granules lead to an efficient COD (89%) and phosphate removal (74%) in 50 days of bioreactor operation. Interestingly, this study revealed that diatomite has some special mechanism in enhancing the removal of both COD and phosphate. The result of this research implies that the advanced development of granular sludge by using diatomite can provide a promising low-strength wastewater treatment.

Advancing the development of railway transport with the help of digital technologies

Background: The object of the study is regional and global cargo transportation. In order for cargo transportation to link the national economy into a single whole, and also allow it to realize its export opportunities, the level of organization of railway transport should be significantly higher than that of other market participants (primarily shippers and consignees). Aim: to study the prospects for increasing the role of railway transport with the help of digital technologies. Methods: To model the role of railway transport at the national and global levels, the article uses the concept of general organizational science by A. A. Bogdanov (Tectology). The Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ) is used to model the role of railway transport at the micro level. Results: Railway transport is considered as a system consisting of subsystems: "working body", "transmission", "engine" and "computer". Each of these subsystems corresponds to separate divisions of railway transport. Digitalization involves the transfer from a person to automated systems, first of all, the functions of such a subsystem as a "working body", which functions according to the same algorithm and, therefore, is extremely routine. This simplifies and makes more predictable the production activities of the relevant departments of railway transport, which in turn creates the opportunity to increase the complexity of other subsystems. Conclusion: Railway transport was originally created as a complex macro system based on the most advanced technologies and significantly ahead of other industries in its development. Because of this, he was able to dramatically increase the level of complexity of the territories that he reached. However, today railway transport is experiencing increasing competition from other modes of transport, and therefore qualitatively new measures are required from railway transport to ensure advanced development. To do this, it is proposed to apply digitalization to the process of physical movement of goods as a whole: from fixing the need for transportation from shippers to delivering goods directly to the production sites of consignees. In this case, the main competitive advantage of railway transport becomes the "computer".

Advanced Development of Sustainable PECVD Semitransparent Photovoltaics: A Review

Energy is the driving force behind the upcoming industrial revolution, characterized by connected devices and objects that will be perpetually supplied with energy. Moreover, the global massive energy consumption increase requires appropriate measures, such as the development of novel and improved renewable energy technologies for connecting remote areas to the grid. Considering the current prominent market share of unsustainable energy generation sources, inexhaustible and clean solar energy resources offer tremendous opportunities that, if optimally exploited, might considerably help to lessen the ever-growing pressure experienced on the grid nowadays. The R&amp;D drive to develop and produce socio-economically viable solar cell technologies is currently realigning itself to manufacture advanced thin films deposition techniques for Photovoltaic solar cells. Typically, the quest for the wide space needed to deploy PV systems has driven scientists to design multifunctional nanostructured materials for semitransparent solar cells (STSCs) technologies that can fit in available household environmental and architectural spaces. Specifically, Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PECVD) technique demonstrated the ability to produce highly transparent coatings with the desired charge carrier mobility. The aim of the present article is to review the latest semi-transparent PV technologies that were impactful during the past decade with special emphasis on PECVD-related technologies. We finally draw some key recommendations for further technological improvements and sustainability.

Microbiome study in irradiated mice treated with BIO 300, a promising radiation countermeasure

Background The mammalian gut harbors very complex and diverse microbiota that play an important role in intestinal homeostasis and host health. Exposure to radiation results in dysbiosis of the gut microbiota leading to detrimental pathophysiological changes to the host. To alleviate the effects of irradiation, several candidate countermeasures are under investigation. BIO 300, containing synthetic genistein formulated as an amorphous solid dispersion or as an aqueous suspension of nanoparticles, is a promising candidate under advanced development. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of BIO 300 on the gut microbiome and metabolome of mice exposed to 60Co gamma-radiation. The gut microbiota and metabolome of control and drug-treated mice exposed to radiation was characterized by bacterial 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and untargeted metabolomics. Results We found that irradiation altered the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio and significantly decreased the relative abundance of Lactobacillus, both in BIO 300-treated and control mice; however, the ratio returned to near normal levels in BIO 300-treated mice by day 14 post-irradiation. Concomitantly, we also observed corrective shifts in metabolic pathways that were perturbed after irradiation. Conclusions Overall, the data presented show that radiation exposure led to a relative depletion of commensals like Lactobacillus leading to an inflammatory metabolic phenotype while the majority of the drug-treated mice showed alleviation of this condition primarily by restoration of normal gut microbiota. These results indicate that the radioprotective effects of BIO 300, at least in part, may involve correction of the host-microbiome metabolic axis.

Interpolation Methods Applied on Biomolecules and Condensed Matter Brownian Motion

Biophysical and condensed matter systems connection is of great importance nowadays due to the need for a new approach in microelectronic biodevices, biocomputers or biochips advanced development. Considering that the living and nonliving systems’ submicroparticles are identical, we can establish the biunivocally correspondent relation between these two particle systems, as a biomimetic correlation based on Brownian motion fractal nature similarities, as the integrative property. In our research, we used the experimental results of bacterial motion under the influence of energetic impulses, like music, and also some biomolecule motion data. Our goal is to define the relation between biophysical and physical particle systems, by introducing mathematical analytical forms and applying Brownian motion fractal nature characterization and fractal interpolation. This work is an advanced research in the field of new solutions for high-level microelectronic integrations, which include submicrobiosystems like part of even organic microelectronic considerations, together with some physical systems of particles in solid-state solutions as a nonorganic part. Our research is based on Brownian motion minimal joint properties within the integrated biophysical systems in the wholeness of nature.

A Double Sky-Hook Algorithm for Improving Road-Holding Property in Semi-Active Suspension Systems for Application to In-Wheel Motor

This paper presents a double sky-hook algorithm for controlling semi-active suspension systems in order to improve road-holding property for application in an in-wheel motor. The main disadvantage of the in-wheel motor is the increase in unsprung masses, which increases after shaking of the wheel, so it has poor road-holding that the conventional theoretical sky-hook algorithm cannot achieve. The double sky-hook algorithm uses a combination of damper coefficients, one from the chassis motion and the other from the wheel motion. Computer simulations using a quarter and full car dynamic models with the road conditions specified by ISO2631 showed the effectiveness of the algorithm. It was observed that the algorithm was the most effective in the vicinity of the wheel hop frequency. This paper also proposed the parameter set of the double sky-hook algorithm to differentiate the driving mode of vehicles under advanced development.

History of partnership relations of the Republic of Kazakhstan with far abroad countries (1990-2000)

The relations with foreign countries, which began to be implemented in the first years of independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan are of particular importance. It is known that conducting the country's economy in accordance with the requirements of world market relations, receiving investment and financial assistance from these countries, exchange of experience, the establishment of import-export trade relations have become the basis for the future of the country. That is why the establishment of multifaceted relations on an equal footing with foreign countries, whose economies have reached the level of advanced development, is included in the main work plan of the foreign policy of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The article considers the political, economic and cultural partnership of the Republic of Kazakhstan with Japan, Turkey, South Korea, India, Israel, Mongolia and other foreign countries in the first decade of independence. Data, documentary materials and works of scientists dealing with international politics were used, a scientific analysis of the topic conclusions were made, and recommendations for further study of the case were given