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The industrial development of mankind is based on the intensive use of natural resources of the planet. The development of the mining industry is a necessary and important factor for the successful development of the national economy. At the same time, mining has a significant impact on environmental degradation. Methods for assessing and minimizing the environmental impact of mining have only been developed in practice in the last 50 years and differ significantly from country to country. The article analyses the approaches and methodologies for environmental impact assessment (EIA) based on international and national standards. The methods used in Kazakhstan and the countries of the European-Asian Economic Union (EurAsEU) are critically evaluated. The developed mathematical models are implemented in the form of digital solutions and implemented in the module of the cloud system ‘3D Quarry’. The methodology proposed by the authors for use and the developed software product allow optimizing mining operations at quarries according to the parameters of minimizing their negative impact on the environment. At the same time, it is mandatory to comply with mandatory national and international regulations. The proposed 3D Quarry system and the EIA module are an alternative to commercial software products (and their pirated copies, often used by companies in the countries under study) and are aimed at small mining companies in post-Soviet countries. It is expected that the application of the proposed software product will allow, within the technological capabilities, to minimize the impact of quarries on the environment of Kazakhstan.

Positive selection may be the main factor of the between‐population divergence in gene expression. Expression profiles of two Drosophila melanogaster laboratory strains of different geographical origin and long‐term laboratory maintenance were analyzed using microchip arrays encompassing probes for 18,500 transcripts. The Russian strain D18 and the North American strain Canton‐S were compared. A set of 223 known or putative genes demonstrated significant changes in expression levels between these strains. Differentially expressed genes (DEG) were enriched in response to DDT (p = .0014), proteolysis (p = 2.285E−5), transmembrane transport (p = 1.03E−4), carbohydrate metabolic process (p = .0317), protein homotetramerization (p = .0444), and antibacterial humoral response (p = 425E−4). The expression in subset of genes from different categories was verified by qRT‐PCR. Analysis of transcript abundance between Canton‐S and D18 strains allowed to select several genes to estimate their participation in latitude adaptation. Expression of selected genes was analyzed in five D. melanogaster lines of different geographic origins by qRT‐PCR, and we found two candidate genes that may be associated with latitude adaptation in adult flies—smp‐30 and Cda9. Quite possible that several alleles of these genes may be important for insect survival in the environments of global warming. It is interesting that the number of genes involved in local adaptation demonstrates expression level appropriate to their geographical origin even after decades of laboratory maintenance., It is interesting that the number of genes involved in local adaptation demonstrates expression level appropriate to their geographical origin even after decades of laboratory maintenance.

This research article presents a software module for the environmental impact assessment (EIA) of open pit mines. The EIA software module has been developed based on the comprehensive examination of both country-specific (namely, Kazakhstan) and current international regulatory frameworks, legislation and EIA methodologies. EIA frameworks and methods have been critically evaluated, and mathematical models have been developed and implemented in the GIS software module ‘3D Quarry’. The proposed methodology and software module allows for optimised EIA calculations of open pit mines, aiming to minimise the negative impacts on the environment. The study presents an original methodology laid out as a basis for a software module for environmental impact assessment on atmosphere, water basins, soil and subsoil, tailored to the context of mining operations in Kazakhstan. The proposed software module offers an alternative to commercial off-the-shelf software packages currently used in the mining industry and is suitable for small mining operators in post-Soviet countries. It is anticipated that applications of the proposed software module will enable the transition to sustainable development in the Kazakh mining industry. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

Endogenous autofluorescence of biological tissues is an important source of information for biomedical diagnostics. Despite the molecular complexity of biological tissues, the list of commonly known fluorophores is strictly limited. Still, the question of molecular sources of the red and near-infrared excited autofluorescence remains open. In this work we demonstrated that the oxidation products of organic components (lipids, proteins, amino acids, etc.) can serve as the molecular source of such red and near-infrared excited autofluorescence. Using model solutions and cell systems (human keratinocytes) under oxidative stress induced by UV irradiation we demonstrated that oxidation products can contribute significantly to the autofluorescence signal of biological systems in the entire visible range of the spectrum, even at the emission and excitation wavelengths higher than 650 nm. The obtained results suggest the principal possibility to explain the red fluorescence excitation in a large class of biosystems&mdash, aggregates of proteins and peptides, cells and tissues&mdash, by the impact of oxidation products, since oxidation products are inevitably presented in the tissue. The observed fluorescence signal with broad excitation originated from oxidation products may also lead to the alteration of metabolic imaging results and has to be taken into account.

International audience; To improve the quality of optical resonator's fabrication, an important step consists in performing an annealing process up to 600°C. It improves the roughness of resonator's surface down to the nanometer scale. Concretely it helps in reducing stresses at the periphery of their surface thus allowing higher Q-factors. Mechanical treatments enable state-of-the art characteristics for the surface roughness. The design of an oven strongly depends on its ability to reach the desired annealing process. It is significantly improved thanks to nichrome resistant alloy wires and special chopped basalt fibers for thermal isolation. In addition to the experimental tests, and in order to get better understanding of the residual stresses inside the resonator, we have simulated the heating process in the oven using the finite element code ANSYS© and CFD fluid module. Thermal distribution at different times of the heating and for three different temperatures with the range of 600°C are described.

International audience; To obtain high quality factor optical resonators, we must reduce stresses at the periphery of their surface as mechanical treatments enable state-of-the art characteristics for the surface roughness. This process is driven by electronics significantly improved thanks to electronic boards based on the use of intensity pulses, coupled with feedback on several parameters for fitting the specific profile of the heating cycle. Sensor is based on K-type technology to reach specification up to 1000°C. Technology is based on the use of microcontroller, low noise operational amplifiers, field effect transistors and driven by a intensity signal.

Thermal annealing performed during process improves the quality of the roughness of optical resonators reducing stresses at the periphery of their surface thus allowing higher Q-factors. After a preliminary realization, the design of the oven and the electronic method were significantly improved thanks to nichrome resistant alloy wires and chopped basalt fibers for thermal isolation during the annealing process. Q-factors can then be improved.

3 p.; International audience; The configuration of the phase noise measurement system operating in the X-band (8.2-12.4 GHz) using a photonic delay line as a frequency discriminator is presented in this paper. This system does not need any excellent frequency reference and works for any frequency in this band. Oscillator frequency fluctuation is converted into phase frequency fluctuation through the delay line. The measured phase noise includes the device under test noise and the instrument background. Then the use of a cross correlation decreases the cross spectrum terms of uncommon phase noise as √(1/m), where m is the average number. Using cross correlation on 500 averages, the noise floor of the instrument £(f) becomes, respectively, −150 and −170 dBc Hz−1 at 10^1 and 10^4 Hz from the 10 GHz carrier (−90 and −170 dBc Hz−1 including 2 km delay lines). We then focus on determining the uncertainty. There are two categories of uncertainty terms: 'type A', statistic contributions such as repeatability and experimental standard deviation; 'type B' due to various components and temperature control. The elementary term of uncertainty for repeatability is found to be equal to 0.68 dB. Other elementary terms still have lower contributions. This leads to a global uncertainty of 1.58 dB at 2σ.

International audience; The performance advances in communication systems like Radar system, precision navigation, space application and time and frequency metrology require more stable frequency and low phase noise system. Here is presented a configuration of phase noise measurement system operating in X-band using a photonic delay line as a frequency discriminator. This system doesn't need any excellent frequency reference and works for any frequency between 8.2 and 12.4 GHz. Using cross correlation on 500 averages, noise floor of the instrument is respectively -150 and -170 dBc/Hz at 10(1) and 10(4) Hz from the 10 GHz carrier (-90 and -170 dBc/Hz including 2 km delay lines). This instrument is developed in the context of association with the national french metrology institute (laboratoire national de metrologie et d'essais, LNE). This calibration system is to be integrated in measurements means of the accredited laboratory to improve the Calibration Metrology Capabilities (CMC) of the LNE.