Al-Farabi Kazakh National University

BackgroundThe bleeding in cardiac surgery remains a significant clinical problem. There is no "gold standard" method to quantify blood loss. Traditional measurement of drainage volume often underestimates or overestimates, as it does not consider the type of fluid. We hypothesized that blood loss could be more accurately calculated using the Hb/kg index in terms of haemoglobin (Hb) mass loss per kilogram of the patient's body mass. This study aimed to ObjectiveTo develop a novel approach for calculating actual blood loss using the Hb/kg index.MethodsThis single-center prospective study included 195 patients who underwent cardiac surgery between October 2023 and November 2024. The Hb/kg index was calculated based on intraoperative Hb loss, Hb loss via chest tubes, packed red blood cell transfusions and patient weight. Eighty-six additional clinical predictors were analyzed using conventional statistics and machine learning algorithms. Predictors with statistically significant Spearman correlations were included for further analysis.ResultsLasso regression achieved the best overall performance in predicting Hb/kg index. It yielded the lowest mean squared error (0.08 ± 0.04), mean absolute percentage error (0.18 ± 0.10), with the highest correlation (0.92 ± 0.06) and R² score (0.82 ± 0.13). BMI showed a significant negative relationship (-0.018, p < 0.001). Postoperative Hb and haematocrit values had negative correlation (-0.69, p < 0.001 and -0.07, p < 0.015), while initial Hb was positively correlated (0.85, p < 0.001).ConclusionsThis method provides a more reliable and clinically relevant tool to calculate actual blood loss and allows for a more precise assessment and treatment.

There has been considerable interest in understanding the causes, behavioral patterns, and consequences associated with career criminals. Much of the early research on career criminals was atheoretical, but with the advancement of life-course and developmental research more and more research on career criminals was guided by theoretical explanations. Even so, there remains much that is unknown about whether criminological theories are useful in explaining career criminals. The current study partially addressed this gap in the literature by examining whether concepts drawn from Gottfredson and Hirschi’s (1990) theory and Moffitt’s (1993) taxonomy were able to explain age of criminal onset and the duration of the criminal career and whether career criminal measures were associated with the odds of being convicted and incarcerated when accounting for measures from these criminological theories. Arrestees drawn from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) were analyzed. The results of some of the models revealed that low self-control and neuropsychological functioning were related to age of criminal onset, but not the duration of the criminal career. Moreover, measures of self-control, neuropsychological functioning, and age of criminal onset were unrelated to the odds of being convicted and incarcerated.

This paper presents an experimental study of an RF-DBD plasma, establishing how variations in operational parameters affect its characteristics and discharge behavior. The study identified the optimal parameters for plasma ignition – including pressure, applied power, and gas flow rate – and quantified their influence on key plasma characteristics, namely electron temperature, electron density, and Hα emission intensity as an optical indicator of hydrogen-containing species. Emission spectroscopy was employed to characterize the argon and argon-methane plasmas, with particular attention paid to the hydrogen Hα line (656.2 nm) in the mixture. For argon plasma, the electron temperature increased from ~ 0.98 eV to ~ 1.08 eV as the pressure was raised from 0.5 to 1.0 Torr at a constant discharge power of 4 W. Under the same pressure and power conditions, the electron temperature for an argon-methane plasma was approximately ~ 1.2 eV. A further increase in both power and gas flow rate leads to a decrease in electron temperature. Concurrently, the electron density was found to be on the order of 1014– 1015 m− 3. Material properties were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for morphology and Raman spectroscopy for structural analysis and defect characterization. The deposited carbon-based materials – films on the RF electrode and particles on the reactor wall – exhibited an amorphous structure. These findings elucidate the fundamental relationship between plasma parameters and gas conversion efficiency, providing a valuable framework for the controlled hydrogen production for energy applications.

Background/Objectives: Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory liver disease that, if not diagnosed and treated promptly, leads to cirrhosis and liver failure. Data on AIH in Central Asia, including Kazakhstan, remain limited. The aim of this study was to characterize the clinical profile of AIH in a Kazakhstani patient cohort, determine the timeliness of diagnosis, and develop an interpretable machine learning model for detecting liver fibrosis based on routine clinical and laboratory parameters. Methods: A retrospective observational study of adult patients with a diagnosis of AIH between 2015 and 2025 was conducted. Demographic, laboratory, instrumental, and histological data of patients with AIH were extracted from medical records. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 22.0. Results: The study included 240 patients with a mean age of 49.3 ± 14.3 years; 87.1% of patients were women. The Random Forest model showed the best results: ROC-AUC of 0.803 ± 0.057, PR-AUC of 0.868 ± 0.044, Brier of 0.180 ± 0.017, sensitivity of 0.816, and specificity of 0.641. SHAP analysis confirmed that platelet count, age, INR, disease duration, and bilirubin and albumin levels made the greatest contribution to the prognosis. Conclusions: This retrospective observational study of AIH in Kazakhstan identified a patient population characterized by late diagnosis and advanced disease stages at presentation, a high frequency of overlapping autoimmune liver diseases, and a significant burden of metabolic and extrahepatic autoimmune comorbidities. The results demonstrate that an interpretable machine learning model based on routine biomarkers can effectively detect fibrosis and provide clinically interpretable risk factors.

Who governs International Branch Campuses? This systematic review synthesizes literature from 2000-2025 to answer this question. Drawing on stakeholder theory and resource dependence theory, we analyze power sources of five key stakeholder groups, identify three power configuration patterns, and explore power operation mechanisms. Three research gaps are identified: limited understanding of power dynamics over time, insufficient attention to micro-mechanisms of power exercise, and lack of research on institutional corrective mechanisms. The review offers a conceptual framework and directions for future research.

Type of the article: Research ArticleAbstractMoney laundering threatens global financial integrity, while digital governance is increasingly seen as a tool to enhance transparency and regulatory capacity. This study operationalized digital governance through the United Nations E-Government Development Index, which captures the scope and quality of online public services, telecommunications infrastructure, and human capital. The paper aims to examine whether improvements in e-government development are associated with measurable reductions in systemic money-laundering vulnerabilities at the country level. The study uses an unbalanced panel of 171 countries for 2012–2024 (982 observations). Fixed- and random-effects models with Box–Cox transformations were estimated, with the Hausman test guiding model selection and cluster-robust and Driscoll–Kraay standard errors ensuring reliable inference. The results demonstrate a statistically significant and economically meaningful inverse relationship between e-government development and money-laundering risk, measured by the Basel AML Index. In the preferred fixed-effects specification, the coefficient on the transformed EGDI is –1.56 (p &amp;amp;lt; 0.001), indicating that within-country improvements in digital governance capacity are associated with substantial reductions in AML vulnerability over time. This effect remains robust across alternative error structures, with 95% confidence intervals of [–1.96, –1.17] under cluster-robust estimation and [–1.75, –1.38] under Driscoll–Kraay correction. The inclusion of country-specific fixed effects reveals considerable structural heterogeneity in baseline AML risk (approximately 1.15–3.90), while time effects display limited variation over the sample period (approximately 2.11–2.19), confirming that the risk-reducing role of digital governance is not driven by specific countries or particular years.AcknowledgmentThis article was prepared based on the results of a study funded by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, “GovTech for Ukraine: A Digital, Secure, Transparent, and Equitable State in Times of War and Post-War Reconstruction” (registration number: 0126U000544).

Type of the article: Research ArticleAbstractGreen lending growth can support bank resilience and is therefore relevant to Kazakhstan’s pathway to carbon neutrality by 2060. The study created a panel of banking years (2015–2024) and assessed the relationships between banks’ regulatory compliance, digitalization, borrowers’ ESG performance, and green loan volumes using multivariate models. The research provides short-term forecasts using compressed ARIMAX and policy scenarios. Moreover, 20 purposively selected semi-structured interviews (commercial bank executives, SME owners, customers, and policy experts) and a national survey of 850 adult bank customers / SME owners led by the author were added. Across preferred specifications, regulatory eligibility and borrower ESG are consistently positive: policy support is associated with KZT 7-9 billion more green credit per bank year, and each one-point increase in borrower ESG is associated with KZT 0.34-0.38 billion higher volumes. Digitalization is positive but model-sensitive, strengthening within-bank variation; larger banks extend more green credit, consistent with capacity advantages. The results are interpreted through three stability channels: improved screening/asset quality, portfolio tilt toward taxonomy-aligned exposures, and funding access without making solvency claims. Scenario paths suggest aggregate green lending could reach KZT 80-96 billion by 2027 under aligned policy-ESG-digital conditions; under weak support, it may stagnate near KZT 49-55 billion. Findings motivate the development of a binding taxonomy with standardized disclosures, a national ESG scorecard registry, and inclusive digital rails to enhance SME and rural uptake.

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the development of eco-friendly, biocompatible, and functional materials in the fields of cosmetology and biomedicine, with a focus on both safety and efficacy. Bacterial cellulose (BC), a natural nanostructured polymer produced by certain microorganisms, has emerged as a promising biomaterial due to its high mechanical strength, purity, water retention capacity, and excellent compatibility with human skin. In this study, a novel biocomposite facial mask was developed based on BC and ellagic acid (EA), a polyphenolic compound known for its strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. EA was extracted from pomegranate (Punica granatum) peel using various methods, including alkaline aqueous and ethanol-based extractions. The most effective approach was found to be extraction with 70% ethanol combined with NaOH solution, yielding a high concentration of the bioactive compound. The antimicrobial activity of the extracted EA was evaluated against clinically relevant strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, showing significant growth inhibition. The biocomposite mask was prepared by impregnating BC membranes with ellagic acid solutions of varying concentrations, followed by drying and stability testing. The results demonstrated that the mask retained its structural integrity, flexibility, and antimicrobial properties after storage at 4 °C for several weeks. The combination of BC and EA resulted in a multifunctional biocomposite with potential applications in cosmetic formulations aimed at preventing microbial skin infections and oxidative stress. This study confirms the feasibility of using plant-derived polyphenols from waste materials and microbial biopolymers in the development of sustainable and high-performance cosmetic products. В последние годы в области косметологии и биомедицины наблюдается возрастающий интерес к разработке экологически чистых, биосовместимых и функциональных материалов, обладающих как безопасностью, так и эффективностью. Бактериальная целлюлоза (БЦ), природный наноструктурированный полимер, продуцируемый определёнными микроорганизмами, представляет собой перспективный биоматериал благодаря высокой прочности, чистоте, способности удерживать влагу и отличной совместимости с кожей человека. В данном исследовании разработана новая биокомпозитная маска для лица, основанная на бактериальной целлюлозе и эллаговой кислоте (ЭК) – полифенольном соединении, обладающем выраженными антиоксидантными, противовоспалительными и антимикробными свойствами. ЭК была получена из кожуры граната (Punica granatum) с использованием различных методов экстракции, включая водно-щелочной и спиртовой. Наиболее эффективной оказалась методика с применением 70% этанола в сочетании с раствором NaOH, обеспечивающая высокий выход биологически активного вещества. Антимикробная активность полученной эллаговой кислоты была протестирована на клинически значимых штаммах Staphylococcus aureusи Pseudomonas aeruginosa, где продемонстрировано выраженное ингибирование роста. Биокомпозитная маска была получена путём пропитывания мембран БЦ растворами ЭК различной концентрации с последующей сушкой и оценкой стабильности. Результаты испытаний показали сохранение структуры, гибкости и антимикробных свойств маски после хранения при температуре 4°C в течение нескольких недель. Сочетание бактериальной целлюлозы и эллаговой кислоты позволило создать многофункциональный биокомпозит, обладающий потенциалом применения в косметических средствах, направленных на борьбу с микробными поражениями кожи и оксидативным стрессом. Проведённое исследование подтверждает возможность использования растительного полифенола из отходов и микробного биополимера в разработке устойчивых, высокоэффективных косметических продуктов.