Utilizing turbidimetry data, an examination is conducted on the behavior of solutions containing N-vinylpyrrolidone and vinyl propyl ether copolymer within a temperature range coinciding with the occurrence of a phase transition. The investigation reveals that within specific conditions prevailing in this domain, the emergence of entities denoted as hydrophobic–hydrophilic associates is conceivable. These entities are characterized by the presence of a relatively dense core, upheld by hydrophobic interplays, and they are proficient in effectively dispersing irradiation within the optical spectrum. Encircling this core is a hydrophilic periphery that impedes the formation of insoluble precipitates. The development of such associates transpires when hydrophobic interactions have attained a discernible prominence, although they remain inadequate to counteract the forces that drive the expansion of macromolecular coils. Under these circumstances, the energetically favored course of action entails the constitution of a core for the aforementioned associates, involving discrete segments from diverse macromolecules. Notably, the introduction of an additional constituent (ethanol) to the solution, which selectively mitigates hydrophobic interactions, serves to stabilize the hydrophobic–hydrophilic associations.

It has been shown that there exist conditions under which thermosensitive copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone with methyl acrylate form hydrophobic–hydrophilic associations, which are unstable dynamic meshes, the bonds in which are continuously broken and created again, and the nature of the formation of such meshes depends significantly on the proportion of the hydrophobic component in the copolymer. It is shown that the interaction of the above copolymers with polyacrylic acid results in the formation of not only classical interpolymer complexes, but also hydrophilic interpolymer associates, which also represent unstable networks existing in a dynamic mode. In such meshes, the molecules of the above copolymers serve as a kind of cross-agent connecting the polyacid molecules. There are also conditions under which such meshes acquire a complex structure, since unstable bonds between macromolecular tangles of both the same and different types take part in their formation. It is shown that the transition from the formation of interpolymer complexes to the formation of hydrophilic interpolymer associates can occur, among other things, due to changes in the acidity or concentration of low-molecular salt in solution.

New design of a viscometer based on the s tokes viscosity measurement method is proposed. The principle of operation of this viscosimetr is based on the use of ball periodic alternated movement in a horizontally positioned cuvette that filled with the test liquid. The movement appears under the in fluence of a magnetic field that created by two electromagnets. Registration of the ball movement inside the cuvette is carried out using an optoelectronic pair. A distinctive feature of the proposed design is control by using a program that installed on t he user's smartphone, which also carries out the primary data processing. Data transmission is carried out over the radio channel using a Bluetooth module. Disposable cuvettes are used for measurements. This approach makes it possible to significantly redu ce both the device production costs and operating costs by eliminating most of the operations for the device preparing for working (the vast majority of existing types of viscometers require thorough flushing of all units in contact with the test medium). In addition, the proposed approach excludes the occurrence of measurement errors associated with insufficiently thorough preparation of the device for operation.

The analysis of the existing literature demonstrates that in order to address the fundamental challenges associated with the origin of life, it is essential to consider this problem from a comprehensive perspective, specifically from the vantage point of the general theory of evolution of complex systems. From these positions, life should be regarded as a distinctive instance of an information storage and processing system that emerges naturally. Evolutionary processes should be examined from the vantage point of the coevolution of material and informational components, which has not been sufficiently emphasized hitherto. It is shown that a specific example in this respect is analogues of neural networks spontaneously formed in solutions of some hydrophilic polymers. Such systems lead to the formation of non-trivial information objects. A wide range of other examples is considered, proving that the processes occurring with the participation of hydrophilic polymers should be interpreted, among other things, from the point of view of formation of information objects, which, under certain conditions, influence the processes occurring at the molecular and supramolecular level. It is shown that it is reasonable to use the tools of classical dialectics to solve such fundamental problems as that of the origin of life.

An advanced methodology of phase transition determination in aqueous solutions of thermo-sensitive polymers by using of the phase portraits method has been suggested. The methodology allows highly accurate determining the temperature when exactly a half of molecules loses solubility (from the maximum number that can go to another phase state under given conditions). It is shown that since phase transition passes usually in a wide enough temperature interval this indicator should be used as a quantitative parameter that characterizes phase transition process. Additionally the suggested methodology allows introducing one more quantitative parameter that reflects a sharpness of phase transition. The methodology is verified by an example of phase transitions study in aqueous solutions of thermo-sensitive copolymers based on N-vinylpyrrolidone and vinyl propyl ether.

It is shown that the predicted energy crisis in Kazakhstan makes the issue of small-scale energy and complementary civil society institutions more than relevant. This crisis, caused by the deterioration of heating networks built during the former USSR, can be more than large-scale, as evidenced...