Aktobe Regional State University named after K.Zhubanov

Urban green infrastructure plays a crucial role in enhancing environmental resilience in cities, particularly in arid regions characterized by water scarcity, soil salinity, and high climatic stress. However, arid coastal cities remain insufficiently studied with regard to spatially explicit assessments of the structure and dynamics of green infrastructure. This study evaluates the state and spatial organization of urban green infrastructure in Aktau, Kazakhstan, over the period 2015–2025, with the most recent satellite observations obtained in June 2025. Sentinel-2 satellite imagery was used to calculate seasonal Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI) values, and zonal statistics were applied to assess intra-urban differentiation across functional zones. In addition, inventory-based indicators—Green Planting Density (GPD), Structural Composition of Greenery (SCG), and Protective Green Infrastructure (PGI)—were integrated to complement the remote sensing analysis. The results indicate a moderate overall increase in mean NDVI values (from 0.21 to 0.28), with the most significant growth observed in central and coastal areas (ΔNDVI = +0.12; ΔSAVI = +0.21), while industrial and newly developed zones exhibit only limited changes. Despite these localized improvements, the spatial configuration of green infrastructure remains fragmented, reflecting a persistent center–periphery asymmetry in urban greening. These results underline the importance of irrigation practices and spatially targeted greening strategies for improving vegetation conditions in arid urban environments. The proposed integrated approach combining satellite-derived vegetation indices and inventory-based indicators can serve as a useful tool for monitoring urban green infrastructure and supporting evidence-based planning in arid coastal cities.

The accumulation of copper smelting slags generated by non-ferrous metallurgy represents both an environmental challenge and a potential source of technogenic raw materials for value-added products. In this study, the feasibility of producing magnesia–quartz proppants from secondary copper smelting slag formed after the pyrometallurgical extraction of iron and zinc was investigated. The slag, primarily composed of oxides of the SiO2–CaO–Al2O3–MgO system, was processed by centrifugal melt granulation to obtain spherical granules suitable for proppant applications. The initial granules exhibited an amorphous glassy structure and insufficient mechanical strength, with up to 70% of particles destroyed under a pressure of 34.5 MPa. Controlled heat treatment within the temperature range of 300–1000 °C induced crystallization of silicate and aluminosilicate phases, leading to a significant improvement in mechanical performance. Optimal properties were achieved after holding at 800 °C for 60 min, where the fraction of crushed granules decreased to 10%, meeting the requirements of GOST R 54571-2011. The influence of MgO content on microstructure and strength was also examined. Increasing the MgO concentration from 5 to 16 wt.% resulted in grain refinement and improved crushing resistance, reducing the fraction of destroyed granules to 3%. To enhance chemical durability, a phenol–formaldehyde protective coating was applied, decreasing proppant solubility in a hydrochloric–hydrofluoric acid mixture from 19% to 2%. These results demonstrate that secondary copper smelting slag can serve as a promising raw material for producing standard-compliant proppants while contributing to the efficient utilization of metallurgical waste.

Brucellosis continues to pose a substantial zoonotic risk in Kazakhstan; however, evidence describing the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of cattle farmers and veterinary personnel remains limited. A cross-sectional study was undertaken between May and October 2024 across twelve administrative locations nationwide. Structured questionnaires were administered to 506 cattle farmers and 33 veterinary professionals, and the data were evaluated using descriptive analyses and univariable logistic regression. Awareness of brucellosis in cattle was relatively high among farmers, yet understanding of its implications for human health was markedly lower. In contrast, animal health workers demonstrated consistently higher levels of knowledge (OR: 12.6; 95% CI: 9.88-16.34; p < 0.001). Several practices associated with zoonotic transmission were commonly reported by farmers, including handling aborted materials without protective gloves, consumption of unpasteurised milk, and leaving reproductive tissues in grazing areas. Nevertheless, most farmers expressed readiness to adopt preventive measures, particularly cattle vaccination and the use of basic protective practices. These findings reveal important gaps between awareness and behavior that may contribute to continued transmission of brucellosis. Strengthening farmer education through locally tailored, One Health-based interventions offers a practical pathway to improving brucellosis control and enhancing cattle productivity in Kazakhstan.

The article examines the problems and prospects for developing cross-cultural competence in future music teachers. The research aims to determine the level of knowledge and the need for forming cross-cultural competence in the professional training of music students in higher education and to propose effective measures for its development. The main research directions included analyzing existing scientific concepts and approaches to forming cross-cultural competence in music education; determining the level of knowledge and significance of cross-cultural competence in the professional training model for music students at universities; developing and testing practical recommendations and methods for music teachers aimed at increasing the level of cross-cultural competence among students at music educational institutions. The research results expand theoretical knowledge about the significance of cross-cultural competence in training music educators, while the practical results present new methodological approaches. The empirical part of the study involved 98 students and 46 teachers from Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University and Utemisov West Kazakhstan University. A survey of teachers and students showed that respondents believe the current state of cross-cultural competence requires significant improvements. Both groups identify similar problem areas and note some differences. Recognition of the need to develop cross-cultural competence among students was 48% and among teachers 40%, which demonstrates the relevance of this research. To form cross-cultural competence in future music teachers, a technology for developing this competence is proposed, including two special courses: "Teaching Intercultural Communication" and "Forming a High Level of Cross-Cultural Competence in Future Music Teachers." The pedagogical experiment showed that the experimental group demonstrates significantly greater progress across all levels of cross-cultural competence compared to the control group, with the lag being particularly noticeable at the creative level. Keywords: cross-cultural competence, pedagogical approaches, future music teachers, monocultural education, multicultural education, pedagogical model, development of cross-cultural competence.

Seamless and uninterrupted connectivity within high-mobility environments (e.g. aerospace and high-speed terrestrial transportation) drives a critical demand for Space-Air-Ground Integrated Networks (SAGIN). In such dynamic environments, conventional handovers lead to frequent loss of connection, higher latency, and diminished quality-of-service (QoS). A new high-mobility handover procedure for SAGIN based on the concept of Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) is introduced. We suggest a new method using real-time environmental perception to improve the decision-making of hand over, reducing the frequency of handover, and balancing the spatial, air and ground network resource allocation. It combines dynamic priority scheduling and a cross-layer communication protocol into a general handover procedure for seamless mobility between network layers. MATLAB-based simulations show that, when compared to existing ground-based and satellite-assisted handover methods, the overhead of LEO-enabled handovers often results in a substantial reduction in latency while simultaneously providing enhanced network throughput with minimum packet loss. The results show that our approach is appropriate to preserve an agreement on the quality received in highly dynamic environments, opening perspectives with novel scientific questions for SAGIN and high-mobility networks.

Abstract The present study developed a training program for prospective teachers in the context of early career orientation of primary school students and evaluated its effectiveness through a pedagogical practicum. To this end, a quasi‐experimental study with a cascading design was conducted in Kazakhstan, involving prospective teachers enrolled in training at the Kazakh National Pedagogical University. A total of 56 students majoring in ‘Primary School Teaching’ completed a 5‐week course focused on enhancing early career guidance for young pupils. The intervention extended to a test group of 238 primary school pupils from School No. 10, the Kyzyljar Secondary School, and the Myrzakyp Dulatov Lyceum in the city of Aktobe. The survey was based on Klimov's typology of occupational domains (‘human–nature’, ‘human–technology’, ‘human–human’, ‘human–symbolic system’ and ‘human–artistic image’). The findings demonstrated a positive impact on both pupils and student teachers. Interest among prospective teachers in acquiring and strengthening competencies related to early career orientation was positive in 86.13% of cases. They highlighted key challenges associated with introducing career guidance practices at an early age, including the lack of individualized approaches and insufficient attention to the topic within teacher training institutions. These concerns corroborated the global trends identified in the theoretical framework. As a result, primary school pupils exhibited greater consistency in their responses on the career orientation questionnaire, aligning with a single occupational type according to Klimov's framework ( p &lt; 0.05), compared with pre‐intervention measurements ( χ 2 = 5.36).

Abstract This paper presents a field-proven methodology that eliminates routine flaring during well testing operations. The objective is to challenge the long-standing industry practice of flaring hydrocarbons during flowback and cleanup phases, and to demonstrate that full test objectives production logging, sampling, cleanup, and data acquisition can be achieved without combustion. The case study is based on a high-H₂S gas condensate well in a remote region of Kazakhstan. To enable flare-free well testing, a novel configuration was deployed combining conventional well test equipment with a portable multiphase boosting system (BoostFlow™), capable of handling variable gas volume fractions (GVF) from 0 to 100%. Produced fluids were routed to a test separator where free water was efficiently removed, while the oil and gas phases were simultaneously pressurized and transported to a remote processing facility. This setup eliminated the need for conventional flare systems and on-site hydrocarbon handling. The operation was performed in a high-H₂S gas condensate reservoir with minimal surface infrastructure, where seamless integration of the booster into the test flowline was essential to ensure stable, controlled flowback and safe pressure management. The operation successfully achieved all standard well testing objectives, including flowback, fluid sampling, and production evaluation, while significantly reducing routine flaring. The integrated multiphase boosting system demonstrated robust performance, maintaining stable operation across a wide range of flow conditions. Notably, the unit sustained continuous operation at 100% gas volume fraction for more than 24 hours, while also delivering consistent performance under low-GVF, liquid-rich conditions. This operational flexibility enabled seamless management of transient flow regimes commonly encountered during well cleanup and test sequences. Successful execution validates the technical feasibility of eliminating flaring from well testing without compromising data integrity or operational objectives. This case provides a proven, scalable model for future applications in sour gas, gas condensate, and remote-field settings, particularly where infrastructure is limited or ESG-driven performance targets are in effect. This paper presents a well testing approach that eliminates routine flaring, challenging long-standing operational norms. Through a first-of-its-kind field application in Kazakhstan, it demonstrates that comprehensive well testing can be performed without combustion. The methodology offers practical value for operators seeking to align with ESG goals and evolving emissions regulations, while maintaining full test integrity in technically demanding, sour gas environments.

This study presents the results of a comprehensive study on various agglomeration methods and binder types for producing briquettes from raw materials. Also, this research focuses on one of the major issues in the production of extrusion briquettes, namely their mechanical strength during handling, transportation, and water exposure. Laboratory experiments were conducted to identify the most suitable binding agents, followed by industrial-scale trials of several formulations. The paper also includes the results of pilot-scale tests. Four types of binders were examined: bentonite, TD 021.005.BS, TD 000.411.BS, and TD 000.414.BS. The strength characteristics of the briquettes were evaluated in accordance with the relevant GOST standards: GOST 21289-75 for hot strength, GOST 25471-82 for drop strength, and GOST 15137-77 for impact and abrasion resistance. The findings indicate that, from a technological perspective, the most efficient binder for briquette production is TD 021.005.BS, when applied within the range of 2.5–3%. Notably, briquettes produced with this binder demonstrate superior moisture resistance compared to other formulations. After 24 h of immersion in water, they retained their original shape and structural integrity, confirming the binder’s high effectiveness for industrial applications.