ASSESSMENT OF THE NATURAL RESOURCE POTENTIAL OF THE IMPORTANT BIRD AREAS OF THE NORTH KAZAKHSTAN REGION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ORNITHOLOGICAL TOURISM

To assess the potential of the allocated Important Bird Areas (IBA) of the North Kazakhstan region for the development of ecological tourism in the region. The work uses the materials of field research of domestic and international ornithological expeditions, cartographic method, statistical and mathematical processing of the data obtained. The territory of the North Kazakhstan region is of interest for the development of ornithological tourism. This is facilitated by the natural resource potential of the allocated promising IBA. The borders of these territories coincide with lake ecosystems located in the foreststeppe and steppe zones of the region. The selected ornithological areas are confined to lake ecosystems that are on the way of migrations and nesting of birds. IBA are characterized by floristic and faunal diversity, insignificant human development. The habitation of rare and endangered species has been noted. The presence of roads ensures accessibility to the studied territories of tourists and wildlife lovers from Kazakhstan, near and far abroad. The allocated territories may be used not only for ornithological, but also for recreational and educational tourism, as well as amateur fishing. The results of the resource potential assessment confirm the prospects for the development of ornithological tourism in the territory of the North Kazakhstan region in the implementation of environmental measures aimed at preserving the uniqueness of ecosystems. The selected IBA have significant natural resource potential and uniqueness. Key territories associated with lake ecosystems can serve for the development of ornithological and recreational tourism. The comprehensive assessment made it possible to identify the weighting coefficient of the studied properties of the territories. This confirms the fact about the prospects of their use as unique natural objects for scientific research, amateur fishing, various types of tourism on the territory of the North Kazakhstan regio

ASSESSMENT OF THE RESOURCE POTENTIAL OF THE BITTER - SALTY SULFIDE LAKES OF THE NORTH KAZAKHSTAN REGION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ECOLOGICAL AND BALNEOLOGICAL TOURISM

To consider the resource potential of bitter-salty sulfide lakes for the development of ecological and balneological tourism in the territory of the North Kazakhstan region of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Field studies, a sociological survey were conducted, methods of statistical and mathematical processing were used. The cartographic method made it possible to visualize the studied material. Bitter-salty lakes contain sulfide mud, which is a unique natural resource. Mud can be used in combination with salt water to create the foundations of ecological and health tourism in the North Kazakhstan region. Research has revealed the most promising lakes of the region. The analysis of the obtained field research data and cartographic material made it possible to assess the resource potential of the lakes. These data were confirmed by the results of a sociological survey, which confirms the possibility of developing the tourism industry on the basis of unique local bitt ersalty lakes. The cartographic material created in the course of the study visually demonstrates the prospects and possible problems of the development of the health tourism industry in the territory of the studied region. The resources of bitter-salty sulfide lakes have sufficient potential for the development of tourism in the North Kazakhstan region. The bitter-salty lakes of the North Kazakhstan region selected on the basis of a comprehensive score have criteria confirming their resource potential. This assessment shows the possibility of developing health and ecological tourism in the region. The border position of the region makes it possible to develop not only internal, but also external tourism

Effect of aliskiren on post-discharge outcomes among diabetic and non-diabetic patients hospitalized for heart failure: insights from the ASTRONAUT trial

Aims The objective of the Aliskiren Trial on Acute Heart Failure Outcomes (ASTRONAUT) was to determine whether aliskiren, a direct renin inhibitor, would improve post-discharge outcomes in patients with hospitalization for heart failure (HHF) with reduced ejection fraction. Pre-specified subgroup analyses suggested potential heterogeneity in post-discharge outcomes with aliskiren in patients with and without baseline diabetes mellitus (DM). Methods and results ASTRONAUT included 953 patients without DM (aliskiren 489; placebo 464) and 662 patients with DM (aliskiren 319; placebo 343) (as reported by study investigators). Study endpoints included the first occurrence of cardiovascular death or HHF within 6 and 12 months, all-cause death within 6 and 12 months, and change from baseline in N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) at 1, 6, and 12 months. Data regarding risk of hyperkalaemia, renal impairment, and hypotension, and changes in additional serum biomarkers were collected. The effect of aliskiren on cardiovascular death or HHF within 6 months (primary endpoint) did not significantly differ by baseline DM status (P = 0.08 for interaction), but reached statistical significance at 12 months (non-DM: HR: 0.80, 95% CI: 0.64-0.99; DM: HR: 1.16, 95% CI: 0.91-1.47; P = 0.03 for interaction). Risk of 12-month all-cause death with aliskiren significantly differed by the presence of baseline DM (non-DM: HR: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.50-0.94; DM: HR: 1.64, 95% CI: 1.15-2.33; P < 0.01 for interaction). Among non-diabetics, aliskiren significantly reduced NT-proBNP through 6 months and plasma troponin I and aldosterone through 12 months, as compared to placebo. Among diabetic patients, aliskiren reduced plasma troponin I and aldosterone relative to placebo through 1 month only. There was a trend towards differing risk of post-baseline potassium ≥6 mmol/L with aliskiren by underlying DM status (non-DM: HR: 1.17, 95% CI: 0.71-1.93; DM: HR: 2.39, 95% CI: 1.30-4.42; P = 0.07 for interaction). Conclusion This pre-specified subgroup analysis from the ASTRONAUT trial generates the hypothesis that the addition of aliskiren to standard HHF therapy in non-diabetic patients is generally well-tolerated and improves post-discharge outcomes and biomarker profiles. In contrast, diabetic patients receiving aliskiren appear to have worse post-discharge outcomes. Future prospective investigations are needed to confirm potential benefits of renin inhibition in a large cohort of HHF patients without D

Effect of Chemically Inert Particles on Thermodynamic Characteristics and Detonation of a Combustible Gas

[[abstract]]An approximate model of chemical equilibrium in heterogeneous mixtures of a combustible gas with chemically inert solid or liquid particles has been suggested. It includes explicit algebraic formulas for the calculation of the molar mass of the gas, internal energy, and heat capacities of gas-particles mixture, and ordinary differential equations for the description of isentropic compression and adiabatic index of the system. The model can be also useful for the rough estimations of thermodynamic parameters of gaseous mixtures with particles of soot. As an example of a possible application of the suggested model of chemical equilibrium, parameters of stationary one-dimensional detonation wave in gas-particles mixtures are calculated. The algorithm of estimation of detonation cell size in such heterogeneous mixtures is presented. Detonation wave parameters and cell size in the stoichiometric hydrogen-oxygen mixture with particles of W, Al2O3, and SiO2 have been calculated. The results of the calculations of detonation parameters and cell sizes are used for analysis of the method of multi-front detonation wave suppression by particles injection before the leading shock front of the wave. The minimal total mass of the particles and characteristic size of the cloud, which are necessary for detonation suppression, have been calculated. It is shown that such suppression is more effective if the particles have high heat capacity, low melting point, and high heat of melting. Among the particles under consideration, the particles of Al2O3 are the best for the detonation wave suppression

Traveling Wave Reactor and Condition of Existence of Nuclear Burning Soliton-Like Wave in Neutron-Multiplying Media

Physical fundamentals of traveling wave reactor are considered. We show that the condition of existence of nuclear burning soliton-like wave in a neutron-multiplying medium is determined in general by two conditions. The first condition (necessary) is determined by relationship between the equilibrium concentration and critical concentration of active (fissionable) isotope that is a consequence of the Bohr–Sommerfeld quantization condition. The second condition (sufficient) is set by the so-called Wigner quantum statistics, or more accurately, by a statistics of the Gaussian simplectic ensembles with respect to the parameter that describes the squared width of burning wave front of nuclear fuel active component