The article discusses the application of a systematic approach to the development and optimization of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Traditional methods that focus on improving individual components (anode, cathode, and electrolyte) often do not lead to a proportional increase in the overall performance of the battery system. The systematic approach views LIBs as a complex, interconnected system where the properties of each component directly influence the behavior of others and the overall performance, including energy and power density, life cycle, safety, and cost. The work analyzes the key aspects of the approach: the interdependence between the main components of a lithium-ion battery, as well as the features of selecting materials for each component. It is proven that only a multidisciplinary approach that combines chemistry, materials science, and engineering can achieve a synergistic effect and create highly efficient, safe, and reliable battery systems for modern applications.

Keywords: lithium-ion battery, system approach, electrode materials, degradation, optimization, cathode, LTO, NMC

Choosing the best video compression method is becoming increasingly important as the volume of online video grows rapidly. By 2026, people are predicted to watch 82% more video online than in 2020. This means finding a balance between image quality, processing speed, and file size. To achieve the desired parameters, it's crucial to choose the right codec.
This paper compares five popular codecs—MPEG-2, MPEG-4, VP9, ​​MJPEG, and ProRes. Each codec offers its own unique method for compressing video, yielding different file sizes and image quality. The goal was to determine which codec is best suited for various applications: video calls, professional filming, and online broadcasts.
The experiments were conducted on a server with four processor cores, 8 GB of RAM, and an 80 GB SSD. Measurements were taken to determine the speed of each codec, the resulting file size, and the video quality. Based on the results of these tests, recommendations were made on which codec to choose and how it can be improved in different scenarios.

Keywords: video codec, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, VP9, MJPEG, ProRes, AVC, compression, coding

The paper presents the results of an analysis of modern approaches to organizing distributed computing architectures that integrate cloud, fog, and edge levels. The limitations of existing models, which fail to provide a comprehensive description of data flows and the dynamics of interactions between computing nodes, are examined. An adaptive graph-based model is proposed, in which the computing system is formalized as a weighted directed graph with parameters of latency, bandwidth, and energy consumption. The model is implemented within a graph database environment and is designed for multicriteria optimization of information exchange routes. Dependencies for calculating flow characteristics and mechanisms for selecting optimal routes based on QoS indicators are provided. The practical applicability of the concept is confirmed by its potential integration into Internet of Things infrastructures, intelligent manufacturing, and transportation systems, where reducing latency and increasing the resilience of the computing architecture are critical.

Keywords: distributed computing system, cloud computing, fog computing, edge computing, graph model, data flow, route optimization, multicriteria optimization, bandwidth, latency, energy consumption, digital twin, Internet of Things, database, Dijkstra’s algorithm

In modern research, symbolic regression is a powerful tool for constructing mathematical models of various systems. In this paper, three symbolic regression methods are applied and compared: genetic programming, sparse identification of nonlinear dynamics and hybrid method. The performance of each method is evaluated by its ability to find accurate models with high accuracy and low complexity in the presence of varying levels of noise in the observational data. Based on the results of the experiments, it was concluded that the best method for identifying dynamic systems is the hybrid method, which combines genetic programming and sparse identification

Keywords: symbolic regression,identification of dynamical systems,genetic programming, sparse identification of nonlinear dynamics, hybrid method GP-SINDy

Polyurethane foams (PUFs) constitute a major class of polymeric materials, widely appreciated for their excellent mechanical strength, chemical resistance, and physical versatility. They are used in a wide variety of applications, such as insulation, cushioning, coatings, and structural parts. Traditionally, PUFs are prepared through polyaddition reactions involving polyols, diisocyanates, and water, where the in-situ generated CO₂ in the reaction mixture serves as the blowing agent. However, there are significant concerns with the use of isocyanates as they are toxic, classified respiratory sensitizers, and contribute to environmental pollution. These issues have directed both researchers and industry experts to search for safer and more sustainable alternative feedstocks.
The polyaddition reaction between cyclic carbonates (CCs) and polyfunctional amines has been one promising alternative. The reaction leads to the formation of non-isocyanate polyurethanes (NIPUs), specifically polyhydroxyurethane foams (PHUFs). Foaming is achieved by using external chemical blowing agents or through self-blowing reactions, where gases are generated directly in the system. The generated   foam cells – the structures that give foams their unique properties – depends largely on the gas-forming reactions.
This review focuses on the different blowing agents used in NIPUF synthesis, such as poly(methylhydrogensiloxane) (PHMS) and liquid fluorohydrocarbons. It also looks at recent advances in self-blowing techniques, which eliminate the need for external agents and make the process more sustainable. Special emphasis is placed on NIPUFs derived from renewable feedstocks, as these align with global trend towards green chemistry and circular materials. The review provides an overview of both externally blown and self-blown biobased NIPUFs, detailing their synthesis, performance, and potential industrial applications.

Keywords: biobased polyurethane, blowing agent, non-isocyanate polyurethane, polymeric foams, polyurethane foams, self-blowing

The paper presents the results of the study of the condition of wooden structures of the attic floor of the St. Petersburg Theological Academy of the Russian Orthodox Church. The main defects and damages of the rafter system elements are indicated. Conclusions are given on the physical and mechanical characteristics of a beam over 200 years old. Conclusions are made on measures to maintain the operability of the structures.

Keywords: load-bearing capacity of wooden structures, biodestructors, strength reduction, rafter system

The invention related to the field of construction is proposed, which can be used for trenchless linear laying of oil, gas and other pipelines under natural and artificial obstacles, linear and extended structures (highways, railroads, etc.) located, including in monolithic rocky soils with simultaneous formation of a case, development and arrangement of a pre-drilled well.

Keywords: pilot well, diamond wire rope, foundation pit, encasement, working body, circular sector

This article presents a study of biosorption wastewater treatment. Water treatment sludge, a waste product from thermal power plants, is used for treatment. The introduction of sludge allows for more efficient biological wastewater treatment, as evidenced by reduced COD, BOD5, ammonia nitrogen, and phosphate values. Improved sedimentation properties of activated sludge and a beneficial effect of sludge on the detoxification process are demonstrated.

Keywords: biosorption, energy waste, activated sludge, wastewater treatment, quality indicators, sedimentation properties, detoxification

The article discusses the surface-active properties of casein and its potential for use as a bioorganic additive in repair and restoration compounds (RRC). An analysis of literary sources confirming the amphiphilic nature of casein, its ability to stabilize interfacial systems and form stable micelles is carried out. The results of an experimental study of the dependence of the surface tension of aqueous solutions of casein on its concentration, carried out by the hanging drop method on a DSA-100 tensiometer, are presented. It is shown that casein effectively reduces the surface tension of an aqueous solution, especially at concentrations of up to 4–5%, which confirms its active adsorption at the phase boundary. Based on the obtained surface tension isotherm, the predicted wettability is considered based on the Young equation. The data obtained emphasize the prospects of using casein as a natural surfactant for creating environmentally friendly and authentic restoration materials that meet the requirements of construction and restoration.

Keywords: casein, surfactants, repair and restoration compounds, surface tension, wettability.

Reinforced concrete structures (RCS) operating under the natural conditions of the Far North are subjected to alternating freezing and thawing. The impact of freezing–thawing cycles (FTC) leads to the degradation not only of the strength but also of the deformation properties (DP) of concrete. In the current design standards for RCS, the DP of concrete and reinforcement are specified as average statistical values. This study investigates the influence of the variability of concrete’s deformation properties on the reliability of the load-bearing capacity of flexural reinforced concrete elements before and after exposure to FTC. It was shown that considering the variability of concrete’s deformation characteristics at reinforcement ratios up to 1% under alternating temperature conditions has practically no effect on the load-bearing capacity, while at reinforcement ratios close to the limiting values it leads to its reduction. In addition, recommendations were provided for the design of flexural reinforced concrete elements under alternating temperature conditions.

Keywords: freeze-thaw cycle, statistical regularities of resistance, flexure, reinforced concrete, ultimate deformation of concrete, assurance

The relevance of the research is driven by the critical state of a significant portion of the historical building stock in Russia, where interfloor slabs are the most vulnerable elements. The problem lies in the need to replace them with structures that meet modern standards for load-bearing capacity and fire safety, without increasing the load on the weakened foundations and walls.

Keywords: reconstruction, cultural heritage site, monolithic floor slab, void former, lightweight structure, load-bearing capacity, work procedure statement

In the current regulatory documents on the design of reinforced concrete structures, a number of conditional assumptions and limitations are adopted, taking into account the specific nature of the resistance of structural elements and simplifying the calculation. One of these assumptions is the assignment of the deformation properties of concrete as average statistical values, which, along with strength characteristics, determine the stress–strain diagrams of the material.
The influence of concrete freezing–thawing cycles (FTC) leads to the degradation of its deformation and strength properties. The failure mode of a flexural reinforced concrete element (plastic or brittle) depends on the strength and deformation characteristics of the concrete and reinforcement, as well as on the reinforcement ratio.
This study examines the statistical patterns of the ultimate reinforcement ratio and the limiting relative height of the compressed concrete zone under alternating freezing–thawing conditions. The analysis of the statistical regularities of the parameters used and their functional relationships confirms their significant variability and, as a consequence, the possible fluctuations (reduction) of the design reliability level of flexural reinforced concrete structures.
Modeling the variability of the strength of flexural reinforced concrete elements under FTC using statistically representative data on the kinetics of the physical and structural parameters of concrete confirms a sharp decrease in reliability and indicates the need for additional targeted research in this field.

Keywords: freezing–thawing cycles, statistical patterns of resistance, reinforced concrete, ultimate concrete strains, reliability of the limiting relative height of the compressed concrete zone, reliability of the ultimate reinforcement ratio

The article presents the experience of a pilot project on the integration of calendar-network planning, BIM-modeling and virtual reality technology for the management of a construction organization. For this purpose, a sequence of steps for integrating technologies is presented and a combination of technologies is performed on the basis of a single digital platform; fragments of the developed calendar-network schedule and BIM model and the results of their combined display in VR glasses are presented.

Keywords: calendar-network planning, calendar-network schedule, BIM-modeling, virtual reality technology, VR-glasses, unified digital platform, TrinusVR

Fiber concrete is one of the most promising building materials. However, it is most commonly used in finishing materials, small architectural forms, industrial floors, and decorative facade details, and is less commonly used in load-bearing structures. Meanwhile, the use of fiber concrete, including fiber reinforced concrete, in load-bearing structures is limited due to a lack of information about the material's behavior under load, and additional experimental data is needed for theoretical understanding. The article discusses experimental studies of concrete reinforced with polypropylene fiber for compression and central tension. Qualitatively different patterns of destruction of concrete and fiber concrete samples were identified. The analysis of the results showed that the highest peak load values were observed in samples with a 1% polypropylene fiber content. Compared to the control series, the load-bearing capacity increased by up to 45%. 

Keywords: fiber concrete, fiber, polypropylene fiber, compression tests

The article explores the phenomenon of architectural palimpsest as a set of autonomous architectural solutions that have existed or have existed for a long time in one territory. Using the example of 5 territories of Yekaterinburg, the process of superimposing various architectural solutions and building life cycles is analyzed. The research methodology is based on the concept of a palimpsest as a multi-layered structure, where each historical layer retains its significance despite the appearance of new objects. The authors consider the palimpsest not only as an overlay of architectural solutions in an existing building, but also as a change of objects in a certain area. The practical part of the study includes an analysis of specific examples of Yekaterinburg: the TV tower, the Temp cinema, the Philharmonic Hall apartment building, the Ural Regional Industrial and Economic College and the Yarutin House. 

Keywords: palimpsest, overlay, demolition, liquidation, layers, history, urban research, memory, architecture, memorials, urban transformation, historical sites, architectural heritage

This article evaluates various methods for determining the technical condition of structures, buildings and structures. To date, probabilistic (statistical) methods are considered to be one of the possible options for determining the degree of destruction of building structures. The advantage of these methods is the ability to comprehensively take into account the parameters present in a variety of material nature. This is due to the possibility of describing them in dimensionless quantities. The purpose of the method under consideration is to formulate a certain number of technical conditions (events) through which it is planned to determine the degree of destruction and find a set of technical conditions of building structures. Diagnostic matrices are created by combining diagnostic features and their conditional probabilities, acquired by analyzing a large amount of accumulated statistical data.

Keywords: construction and technical expertise, defects, reliability, diagnostic methods, efficiency

Concretes based on ground blast-furnace granulated slag activated with alkaline solutions exhibit excellent mechanical properties. However, they have significant drawbacks, such as rapid setting and poor workability during concreting. The effect of various superplasticizers on the properties of pastes prepared from ground blast-furnace granulated slag activated with alkaline solutions was studied. An aqueous solution of sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide was used as an alkaline slag hardening activator. The effect of superplasticizer dosage on the setting time, flowability, and changes in compressive strength of slag-alkali solutions was studied. It was found that properties of the freshly prepared paste, such as the initial and final setting times, increase with increasing the solution-to-slag ratio and with the addition of a superplasticizer. Superplasticizers based on naphthalene sulfonic acid and polycarboxylate ether were found to effectively influence both the setting time, workability, and strength of slag-alkali binder-based compositions. It was established that a slag-alkali composition with a mortar-to-slag ratio of 0.4 exhibits low workability and is not technologically feasible for on-site concreting, while its optimal value is 0.5. A superplasticizer dosage of 2% of the slag mass ensures not only the technological requirements for concreting (the initial and final setting time and concrete mix mobility), but also the strength properties of the formed concrete based on ground blast-furnace granulated slag.

Keywords: metallurgical waste, granulated slag, hardening activator, binder, superplasticizer, setting time, spray, strength

The paper is devoted to the problems of MicroGrid technology development, consisting in the construction of a distributed energy supply system based on autonomous energy generation sources. The objective of the paper is to construct models and procedures for decision support in multi-criteria selection of combined autonomous energy generation projects from a large number of possible alternatives. To achieve the objective, a morphological analysis of the subject area was carried out (using the method of systematic field coverage by F. Zwicky), as a result of which a space of alternatives of combined energy sources was constructed. A group ordering of criteria was carried out based on their expert assessment. Sequential application of the modified analytical network method using ordered groups of criteria made it possible to limit the number of criteria taken into account at each stage (by the number of criteria in a group) and consistently reduce the number of alternatives (considering only a few of the best alternatives of the previous stage). The proposed multi-stage procedure makes it possible to reduce (at each stage) the dimension of the supermatrix of the analytical network method and, thereby, reduce the time complexity of the procedure compared to the direct application of this method. The use of the proposed procedure makes it possible to consider a larger number of alternatives taking into account a larger number of criteria (compared to traditional methods of decision support), and, therefore, allows for an increase in the level of scientific validity of technical and economic decisions when designing MicroGrid systems

Keywords: MicroGrid, autonomous power system, decision support, analytical network method

The main design features and elements of industrial shaft furnaces are described. It is indicated that one of the undesirable phenomena in a shaft furnace is a large temperature gradient along its height; in this regard, the processes of air mass transfer through various parts of the furnaces are considered. The relationships and limitations that determine such a negative effect as the possibility of external air diffusing into the furnace through its walls are formulated. The results can be used to increase the quality of shaft furnace designs and the applied heat treatment processes.

Keywords: electric furnaces, heat treatment, tightness, gas permeability

The article discusses the task of unifying design parts in the manufacture of metal structures, aimed at reducing excessive nomenclature and increasing the efficiency of the production process. A fuzzy clustering algorithm based on the Fuzzy C-Means method is proposed and implemented, taking into account a set of geometric and technological features of parts. The method allows for flexible assessment of the degree to which elements belong to unified groups and provides resistance to deviations and acceptable errors. An experimental check on a real sample of project data showed a 38.7% reduction in the number of unique positions and a reduction in labor costs for documentation preparation. The results obtained confirm the effectiveness of the proposed approach for the tasks of digital transformation of production engineering.

Keywords: fuzzy clustering, Fuzzy C-Means, unification of parts, digital manufacturing, intelligent data processing, metal structures

The article considers issues related to making management decisions when ensuring safety in emergency situations. It reflects the features of making management decisions in emergency situations, when achieving a guaranteed level of safety is not always possible. The control loop is presented and the connections between the elements of the first and second stages are analyzed. It is shown that uncertainty in making management decisions arises due to a lack of information about the control object or is caused by unprofessional actions of the decision maker. It is proposed to create and use in practice a digital twin of safety in an emergency situation to eliminate uncertainties in making management decisions. Decomposition of the task into subtasks allows for the process of collecting and analyzing aggregate information about the control object to eliminate uncertainties and minimize risks in the development, adoption and implementation of management decisions in an emergency situation when ensuring safety.

Keywords: control model, control loop, uncertainty, risk, digital twin, decomposition, emergency safety

The development, implementation and continuous improvement of diagnostic systems for Russian Railways (RZD) infrastructure facilities are defined as conditions for ensuring reliable and safe operation. The current concept regulates the stages and directions of development of diagnostic systems for the period up to 2030, with a development perspective up to 2035. It is planned to create integrated, stationary and mobile monitoring and diagnostic systems.
The most optimal, from the point of view of the effectiveness of the diagnostic system, is to provide the ability to monitor diagnostic parameters with a given accuracy, automatically, without disabling equipment, in real time. This approach significantly simplifies operational control procedures. There is no need to change the condition of the equipment and power supply circuits. The number of personnel involved in carrying out diagnostic procedures is decreasing, as well as the influence of the human factor on the results is decreasing. The article discusses ways to automate the isolation control of Russian Railways infrastructure facilities.

Keywords: diagnostic system, infrastructure, operational control, automation