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The microfinance sector’s Paradigm Shift (PS) of the 1990s caused a drastic shift in how Microfinance Organizations (MFOs) ensured their long-term survival and sustainability. The PS required MFOs to adopt a commercial approach in all their operations and pursue profitability and self-sustainability rather than depending on the provision of subsidized funds. Resorting to Schatzki’s (2002) ‘site of the social’ theoretical construct and DiMaggio and Powell’s (1983) institutional theory, this empirical paper aims to evaluate the real performance of Pakistan’s microfinance sector, following the PS, in terms of its strict adherence to its founding objectives of eradicating poverty and serving the extreme poor. This qualitative empirical research paper resorts to the Case Study approach to investigate the pre- and the post-Paradigm Shift eras of Pakistan’s microfinance sector for evaluating the sector’s real ‘success’ in accomplishing its founding aim of eradicating poverty at the grass root level. Analysis of the data reveals that the microfinance sector, in its pursuit of profitability and self-sustainability, following the PS, is compromising its founding commitment to its target beneficiaries – the extreme poor. The study contributes a theory, literature and empirical evidence-informed conceptual framework to help guide organizational change initiatives in the peculiar context of a social service/not-for-profit sector and predict the outcome quality of such a change for all stakeholders. The study outcomes apprise policy-makers and practitioners of the possible negative consequences of the microfinance sector’s gradual transition from a ‘social service’ to a ‘commercial’ model for the poor.

This paper investigates the impact of Economic Policy Uncertainty (EPU) on Investment-Cash Flow Sensitivity (ICFS). Further, this study examines whether ESG moderates the impact of such uncertainty on the ICFS of the manufacturing firms in India. The study has applied system-GMM regression with a sample of 222 firms from 2012 to 2022. It reveals that EPU dampens corporate investment and magnifies the role of cash flow in corporate investment. Further, firms' Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) performance decelerates the adverse impact of EPU on ICFS and makes the investment-cash flow less sensitive. Furthermore, the study highlights that ESG helps to access external funds easily. Overall, this paper contributes new insights to the present literature, and the outcomes of this study are of greater interest to economists, firms, managers, and investors.

Investors face a basic dilemma during a financial crisis i.e., whether to exit and re-enter or to continue with the existing set of positions. The timing of entry and exit plays a crucial role in determining the rate of returns generated by a portfolio. Thus, the problem faced by investors during a crisis is whether to exit or to continue and how to determine the timing of exit if the first option is chosen. This research paper attempts to find solutions to the problems faced by investors. The research paper focuses on addressing the parameters used to determine the exit and re-entry and the time factor associated with it. A timely entry in the right stocks will lead to a good return on the portfolio. The research paper is an attempt to determine the factor by which rate of return is affected if the norms of timely entry and exit are followed. The team of researchers has identified two specific times in the history of financial markets when the fall in the markets was considerable and led to a lot of confusion amongst investors. These two times are the case studies for comparison: The first one is the sub-prime lending crisis in 2008-09 and the second one is the fall due to COVID-19 in 2019-20. These two events underline the fact that decision making in the financial markets is a very subjective domain and the returns are dependent on the system followed by the investors.

Geothermal energy, the thermal energy harnessed from Earth's crust, is a renewable, low-carbon resource. Underground mines offer a cost-effective means for geothermal utilisation due to elevated geothermal gradients and accessible void spaces. Mine-based geothermal systems can leverage mine ventilation exhaust, mine water, and rock strata; however, mine water based geothermal recovery systems stand out as the dominant mode, particularly in abandoned and flooded mines, where heat pumps can be further utilised to extract thermal energy efficiently. This paper delves into diverse aspects of mine water-based geothermal systems, including different configurations, critical parameters, and critical factors of implementing the technology, including water quality assessments and heat conduction challenges in mine water. The paper presents the results of preliminary modelling of fluid flow and heat transfer in flooded mines, analysing the main parameters influencing the flow and heat exchange processes. By addressing these aspects, the paper aims to contribute to successfully implementing mine water based geothermal systems, thereby advancing sustainable energy solutions in the mining industry.

Waterproof coal pillar infiltration water makes water conduction channel formed in the coal pillar and may lead to the occurrence of underground water accident. The monitoring of seepage water in waterproof coal pillars is a necessary means to prevent and control the destabilization of waterproof coal pillars. This paper establishes a coupled model of seepage field and resistivity of water-bearing coal column, analyzes the changes of seepage field and pore water pressure of water- bearing coal column, and combines the inversion technique of direct current method to determine the apparent resistivity changes of seepage process. The following main conclusions are obtained in this paper: high-pressure water intrusion in the waterproof coal column aquifer is the essential cause of waterproof coal column seepage, and the inhomogeneous fissure network inside the coal body provides the necessary channel for high-pressure water circulation; staggered pore water areas are more favorable for pore water circulation compared with parallel pores, and the pore network area has a larger range of water pressures; the results of multiple inversions are obvious for the inversion of high-resistivity areas and low-resistivity areas. The low-resistance area of the apparent resistivity field corresponds well with the high water pressure area of the seepage field in space; there exists an obvious demarcation line between the low-resistance and high-resistance areas of the apparent resistivity, and the demarcation line is the demarcation line of the dangerous area of seepage when comparing with the area of the gradient change of the water pressure of the seepage field. The closer the visual resistivity inversion is to the roadway, the better the inversion effect is, and the higher the accuracy of the test results; the seepage water pressure at different depths shows a strong negative correlation with the visual resistivity, and the correlation reaches more than -0.8, and the DC method has

This paper presents the xCell Convergence monitoring system that has recently been developed and used to measure convergence in metalliferous hard rock mines. The system is simple to use, easily installed, economical and provides a real-time continuous flow of convergence data directly to the cloud-based application. The xCell Cyclops is the measuring sensor, it utilises laser technology to measure distance from the mounted location to the opposite side of the tunnel. The xCell Cyclops is directly installed onto an MD, MDX and Kinloc bolts or, using an adapter, any standard threaded bolt. The device is battery powered, wireless and with Wi-Fi connectivity, it transmits data into the cloud. With low-energy Bluetooth it connects to the xCell Professor, which is used in mine areas where Wi-Fi is not available. The xCell Professor is mounted within mine vehicles and allows collection of data at drive-by speeds up to 30 km/h. The system was tested, and convergence measurements are reported in this paper. Tests showed that ground movement was measured accurately, and data collection was efficient and effortless with entirely unmanned and automatic operation.

This paper lays a foundation for quantifying the interaction “value” effects of the financial planner/client relationship through the lens of Financial Planning Client Interaction Theory (FPCIT), utilizing integration—a mathematical process commonly used in calculus to find the area under a curve. FPCIT recently emerged in response to practitioner and researcher calls for theory specific to the financial planning profession. FPCIT posits that the distinction of the professional practice of financial planning and its value to consumers is centered upon the unique and complex human interaction phenomenon inherent in the client relationship. FPCIT extends the value of financial planning discussion by offering a theory-based vantage point from which the profession can analyze the origins and synthesis of value within financial planning practice. The implications of FPCIT and the valuation method presented in this paper underscore the relevance of financial therapy, counseling, and psychology in expanding the financial planner’s skillset beyond technical expertise.

The microfinance sector’s Paradigm Shift (PS) of the 1990s caused a drastic shift in how Microfinance Organizations (MFOs) ensured their long-term survival and sustainability. The PS required MFOs to adopt a commercial approach in all their operations and pursue profitability and self-sustainability rather than depending on the provision of subsidized funds. Resorting to Schatzki’s (2002) ‘site of the social’ theoretical construct and DiMaggio and Powell’s (1983) institutional theory, this empirical paper aims to evaluate the real performance of Pakistan’s microfinance sector, following the PS, in terms of its strict adherence to its founding objectives of eradicating poverty and serving the extreme poor. This qualitative empirical research paper resorts to the Case Study approach to investigate the pre- and the post-Paradigm Shift eras of Pakistan’s microfinance sector for evaluating the sector’s real ‘success’ in accomplishing its founding aim of eradicating poverty at the grass root level. Analysis of the data reveals that the microfinance sector, in its pursuit of profitability and self-sustainability, following the PS, is compromising its founding commitment to its target beneficiaries – the extreme poor. The study contributes a theory, literature and empirical evidence-informed conceptual framework to help guide organizational change initiatives in the peculiar context of a social service/not-for-profit sector and predict the outcome quality of such a change for all stakeholders. The study outcomes apprise policy-makers and practitioners of the possible negative consequences of the microfinance sector’s gradual transition from a ‘social service’ to a ‘commercial’ model for the poor.

This paper investigates the impact of Economic Policy Uncertainty (EPU) on Investment-Cash Flow Sensitivity (ICFS). Further, this study examines whether ESG moderates the impact of such uncertainty on the ICFS of the manufacturing firms in India. The study has applied system-GMM regression with a sample of 222 firms from 2012 to 2022. It reveals that EPU dampens corporate investment and magnifies the role of cash flow in corporate investment. Further, firms' Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) performance decelerates the adverse impact of EPU on ICFS and makes the investment-cash flow less sensitive. Furthermore, the study highlights that ESG helps to access external funds easily. Overall, this paper contributes new insights to the present literature, and the outcomes of this study are of greater interest to economists, firms, managers, and investors.

Investors face a basic dilemma during a financial crisis i.e., whether to exit and re-enter or to continue with the existing set of positions. The timing of entry and exit plays a crucial role in determining the rate of returns generated by a portfolio. Thus, the problem faced by investors during a crisis is whether to exit or to continue and how to determine the timing of exit if the first option is chosen. This research paper attempts to find solutions to the problems faced by investors. The research paper focuses on addressing the parameters used to determine the exit and re-entry and the time factor associated with it. A timely entry in the right stocks will lead to a good return on the portfolio. The research paper is an attempt to determine the factor by which rate of return is affected if the norms of timely entry and exit are followed. The team of researchers has identified two specific times in the history of financial markets when the fall in the markets was considerable and led to a lot of confusion amongst investors. These two times are the case studies for comparison: The first one is the sub-prime lending crisis in 2008-09 and the second one is the fall due to COVID-19 in 2019-20. These two events underline the fact that decision making in the financial markets is a very subjective domain and the returns are dependent on the system followed by the investors.

This paper investigates the impact of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) scores as well as individual pillar scores on the firm performance in the Indian context. Even though a lot of research has been conducted world-wide concerning this issue, a conclusive result has not yet been derived. Being an emerging economy, India is at a nascent stage of research related to ESG issues, and past research indicates a mixed result. In order to avoid the potential endogeneity issue, this paper used a dynamic panel approach of system GMM. This paper considered data from 59 non-financial companies listed under the NSE 500 index. Data was collected from the Thomson Reuters Refinitiv Eikon database over a period of 11, spanning from 2010 to 2021. The finding suggested a significantly negative impact of ESG score on firm performance measured by Tobin's Q and ROA, which indicates a non-linear U-shaped relationship. Net profit margin and closing price are used as alternative, dependent variables to check the robustness of the models and show consistent results. The environmental pillar score and social pillar score showed a negative impact on firm performance, whereas the governance pillar score showed a positive impact on market performance but negatively impacted financial performance. The key takeaway from this paper is that, if firms continue to improve ESG disclosure, it will positively impact firm performance in the future.

Islamic Banking (IB) still struggles to institutionalise its practices at the wider societal level. The literature, despite having covered the sector from several angles, has overlooked an objective evaluation of the root causes of its restricted institutionalisation so far. This empirical investigation into Pakistan's IB sector fills this void and investigates the sector's apparent limited success in institutionalising its practices despite having been formally accorded legitimate legal status around the world. The paper, bringing the sector's governance to the spotlight, concludes that the social practice's 'site' of development – the Islamic Shari'ah jurisprudence, has too strong a coupling of internal elements to accommodate the sector's current loose adherence to its principles and laws, and thus the sector, rather than its 'site' of its development, needs to adapt and reorient to accomplish unrestricted institutionalisation. The paper also extends Foucault's theoretical constructs in the sector's peculiar context, which stems from a unique cultural, economic, and regulatory environment. The paper aims to add a new dimension to the IB governance literature and help steer future research focus to areas with the highest marginal utility for the sector and its stakeholders.

Climate scientists don’t like surprises. It means our deep understanding of how the climate works isn’t quite as complete as we need. But unfortunately, as climate change worsens, surprises and unprecedented events keep happening. In March 2022, Antarctica experienced an extraordinary heatwave. Large swathes of East Antarctica experienced temperatures up to 40°C (72°F) above normal, shattering temperature records. It was the most intense heatwave ever recorded anywhere in the world. So shocking and rare was the event, it blew the minds of the Antarctic climate science community. A major global research project was launched to unravel the reasons behind it and the damage it caused. A team of 54 researchers, including me, delved into the intricacies of the phenomenon. The team was led by Swiss climatologist Jonathan Wille, and involved experts from 14 countries. The collaboration resulted in two groundbreaking papers published today. The results are alarming. But they provide scientists a deeper understanding of the links between the tropics and Antarctica – and give the global community a chance to prepare for what a warmer world may bring.

Islamic Banking (IB) still struggles to institutionalise its practices at the wider societal level. The literature, despite having covered the sector from several angles, has overlooked an objective evaluation of the root causes of its restricted institutionalisation so far. This empirical investigation into Pakistan's IB sector fills this void and investigates the sector's apparent limited success in institutionalising its practices despite having been formally accorded legitimate legal status around the world. The paper, bringing the sector's governance to the spotlight, concludes that the social practice's 'site' of development – the Islamic Shari'ah jurisprudence, has too strong a coupling of internal elements to accommodate the sector's current loose adherence to its principles and laws, and thus the sector, rather than its 'site' of its development, needs to adapt and reorient to accomplish unrestricted institutionalisation. The paper also extends Foucault's theoretical constructs in the sector's peculiar context, which stems from a unique cultural, economic, and regulatory environment. The paper aims to add a new dimension to the IB governance literature and help steer future research focus to areas with the highest marginal utility for the sector and its stakeholders.

This paper explores the impact of firms’ ESG performance on their trade credit financing and working capital efficiency, utilizing a sample of 586 Indian firms listed on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) from 2015 to 2022. The study offers robust evidence supporting the positive connection between superior ESG disclosure and trade credit, as well as the negative link between ESG disclosure and the cash conversion cycle. These findings underscore the role of ESG disclosure in increasing suppliers’ willingness to extend trade credit and facilitating efficient working capital management practices. The result shows that improved ESG disclosure practices increase payable turnover days and reduce both inventory turnover and receivable turnover days, reflecting the enhanced operational efficiency and market power of the firm.

The primary aim of this study is to investigate the extent to which finfluencers can be considered experts who fulfill the critical role of information intermediaries contributing to the efficiency of financial markets. To assess this, we assembled a manually collected dataset consisting of recommendations made by finfluencers. We conducted an event study to analyze both short-term and long-term effects on stocks. The findings reveal that, on average, all stocks examined during the event window [-10, +10] days exhibit a noteworthy Cumulative Abnormal Announcement Return (CAAR). The outcome suggests that, in the short term, finfluencers may not be deemed as experts. In contrast, the long-term Buy-and-Hold Abnormal Returns (BHAR) were positive and also statistically significant. Considering these results and the frequent absence of financial licenses among finfluencers, along with their tendency to endorse risky investments, we endorse SEBI's action in issuing a consultation paper (dated 25th August 2023) to regulate unregistered finfluencers. These measures are aimed at safeguarding inexperienced investors from taking undue risks and ensuring the integrity of financial markets.

This article summarizes the recent developments in India’s securities markets regulations, instruments, and intermediaries. It documents the latest and first-ever initiatives in the Indian securities markets such as the implementation of the T+1 settlement cycle, introducing social stock exchange with Zero Coupon and Zero principal bonds, a stronger framework for green debt securities through blue, green, and yellow bonds. The article also dwells upon the regulations related to Business Responsibility and Sustainable Reporting (BRSR), and ESG disclosures and ratings aimed at setting up an efficient market structure by strengthening the governance system. The fourth annual international capital markets conference was organized to foreground India’s multiple challenges and to encourage policy discussion about the latest developments in the Indian securities market. A brief summary of relevant papers presented in the conference and published in this issue is provided at the end of the article.

Based on the engineering background of Pingmei No. 8 coal Mine, this paper studies the reasonable width of coal pillar under the mining condition of deep very close coal seam group by means of theoretical calculation, numerical simulation and field experiment. The FLAC3D numerical model is established to simulate the evolution of the plastic zone, stress field and displacement field when the coal pillar width is 3-10m. The results show that when the width of the coal pillar is higher than 5m, the plastic zone of the surrounding rock can be effectively reduced and the deformation resistance of the coal pillar can be improved. When the width of the coal pillar is higher than 7m, the stress concentration degree of the coal body in the coal pillar gradually increases, and the deformation degree of the roadway gradually increases, and a large range of high stress concentration phenomenon will occur in the adjacent coal seam in the very close distance of 16.17. It is not conducive to roadway maintenance and gas control of 16.17 coal seam. The reasonable width of coal pillar is between 5~7m under the mining condition of deep and very close coal seam group. Through the field industrial experiment, the gas concentration on the solid coal side is higher than that on the coal pillar side, mainly because the amount of gas desorption in the coal body is larger than that on the coal pillar side. The gas emission on the coal pillar side and the gas emission in the roadway do not exceed the limit phenomenon, which effectively verifies the reliability of the coal pillar with a width of 5m, indicating that the coal pillar with a width of 5m meets the demand for safe production.

Australia's coal-fired power stations accounted for approximately 23% of the country's total Green House Gas (GHG) emissions from all power stations in the 2021-2022 period. These emissions encompass both Scope 1 and Scope 2 categories. Such a significant contribution has led to continuous criticism of the coal industry within Australia, as the global energy landscape shifts towards a broader range of low to zero-emission energy sources. This transition calls for the coal industry to explore innovative methods to capture and remove Green House Gas emissions, particularly CO2, which is a major contributor to global warming. Current CO2 disposal methodologies are predominantly focused on injecting CO2 into deep aquifers and depleted oil and gas reservoirs. In this paper, we propose an alternative approach for the permanent disposal of CO2 emissions from coal-fired power stations. This approach involves the underground injection of CO2 into ultramafic and mafic deposits located within economical distances from these stations in Southeast Australia. The exothermic reactions between CO2 and magnesium- and calcium-rich minerals in ultramafic and mafic rocks lead to the permanent conversion of CO2 into stable carbonate minerals. This process eliminates the need for extensive monitoring and control systems to detect any unintended CO2 seepage on the surface and is expected to lower the running costs of CO2 disposal.

Seal leakage contributes significantly to methane emissions during longwall mining, occurring when a sealed goaf pressurises with coal seam gas from overlying seams within the sealed goaf subsidence zone, which then leaks into the tailgate roadway. This paper aimed to minimise methane seal leakage in an active tailgate by optimising sealed goaf drainage and its influence on nitrogen inertisation. Optimisation occurred through developing an automated control system that varied sealed goaf drainage quantity in response to variable barometric pressures. The methodology analysed the adjacent goaf drainage operations at Kestrel South Mine, utilising goaf wells on the tailgate side of the adjacent goaf and applying suction to the sealed area alongside nitrogen inertisation through a tailgate seal. The control system utilised a Proportional - Integral - Derivative (PID) control-loop utilising a real-time differential pressure sensor on a tailgate seal as a feedback loop. The project found that adjacent goaf drainage operations could not effectively manage seal leakage during longwall startup. However, when ~900l/s of sealed goaf drainage and ~600l/s of nitrogen inertisation was achieved, seal leakage rates stabilised below 0.2% CH4 concentration in the tailgate roadway. The control system reduced sealed goaf drainage quantity when tailgate seal pressure was <200Pa, reducing the risk of spontaneous combustion and maximising the current goaf drainage network capacity.

A coal burst is one of the catastrophic phenomena may occurring in underground coal mines. It definitely put at risk both human and equipment. Obviously, coal bursts are triggered by various mechanisms and there are many factors affecting coal burst triggering. Besides, the influence or importance levels of these causing factors are not constant. Therefore, the identification of coal burst triggering mechanisms, their causing factors, and the importance levels of these factors are vital for engineers to take more appropriate mitigating measures to minimize the adverse consequences of coal bursts. Hence, in this study, coal burst causing factors are investigated and categorized. Based on the interaction between these factors, different triggering mechanisms have been considered. So, in this paper, coal burst is classified into two groups including self-initiated and remotely triggered. Moreover, to determine the importance levels of the recognized influencing factors, Fuzzy Delphi Analytical Hierarchy Process (FDAHP) method is applied. Using this method, influencing factors are ranked and the most important ones have been determined.

This paper summarises the research conducted to provide a new means of measuring the burst propensity of coal. Burst events in underground coal mines are commonly associated with structurally disturbed coal. As part of this study, a series of samples were collected from burst and non-burst sites for UCS testing to identify the changing burst propensity of different seams in proximity to geological structures. Applying the three critical factors of the burst triangle, coal, energy, and isotropic mass, identifies the controlling factor of burst events to be isotropic mass. Isotropic mass influences the confinement of the coal mass and energy storage potential. The isotropic mass of a coal seam is determined using the Coal Mass Rating (CMR) derived from the UCS test results. At each site, the samples collected come from four sampling zones near various geological structures. The four zones were identified based on the fracture index of the coal. The coal with the higher CMR values provides an early indicator of pockets of stored energy, including gas and strain energy. In combination, the CMR value and the fracture index provide a means of determining the burst propensity of the coal samples, enabling early intervention prior to the occurrence of burst events.

To stabilize underground coal mining operations, timber chocks play a vital role by providing resistance against roof and floor convergences, which can help to maintain safety and productivity at a high level. This type of standing support system offers numerous benefits, including cost-effectiveness, rapid installation and minimal service requirements. This paper presents an investigation into the material characterization of timber chocks at the component level. To achieve this goal, several experimental tests were conducted to determine the mechanical properties of hardwood timbers. These properties include compressive and bending strengths as well as modulus of elasticity. Additionally, the study examines the impact of different notch corner shapes on the performance of timber components. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the mechanical behaviour of timber chocks under critical underground mining scenarios.

Different methods and techniques are reported in testing several types of tendons including solid rebars and cable bolts to evaluate their strength and performances in various rock formations. Most reported studies are laboratory-based, enhanced occasionally with numerical studies. Moreover, some tests are also carried out in situ to verify test results obtained from laboratory studies. The laboratory strength studies involved both push and pull testing, single and double shear testing of solid rebar, fiberglass rods, and cable bolts using different grout types installed in composite mediums of varied strength. Several challenges are faced when undertaking these various tests. These challenges may contribute to inconsistencies in the test results caused by various parameters, which are recognized, and the findings of these studies are examined and reported. This paper highlights a range of factors that influence tendon system performance based solely on two decades of tendon research by the rock mechanics group of the School of Civil, Mining, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, the University of Wollongong to draw the attention of the researcher on the importance of these factors and their influence in the real installation environment.

Carborough Downs Coal Mine experienced isolated areas of reserves with abnormally low seam permeability which had not been successfully drained to below the gas outburst threshold by SIS and UIS methods typically applied by the operation. As a result, the mine successfully implemented trials of UIS based inseam hydraulic fracturing to increase gas drainage rates. Successful reduction of the in situ gas content from near virgin levels of around 14m3/t to below the required threshold of 7.42m3/t allowed development of gate roads, an installation face and subsequent longwall extraction. The intensity of UIS drilling and hydraulic fracturing required to rapidly drain the seam in the extremely low permeability zones was at an unprecedented level in the Australian industry. Subsequent development through these zones identified a change in geotechnical conditions. This change resulted in increased levels of strata deformation, rib spall, an increase in TARP triggers and resulted in the need for rapid increases in support levels to maintain strata management. This support includes pre-consolidation of the areas identified as being heavily fractured in the longwall block to manage longwall face and gate road conditions during retreat. This paper discusses the hydraulic fracturing methods developed and applied at the operation and the results obtained, along with the resultant mining conditions and strata control requirements needed to maintain a stable working environment.

This paper primarily evaluates the axial and shear performance of fully grouted fibreglass- reinforced polymer (FRP) rock bolting systems. For this purpose, a FRP rock bolt with a diameter of 20 mm was selected for examination. To evaluate the axial performance, several samples with a double- embedment length of 150 mm and an exposed length of 200 mm were cast using an 80 MPa cementitious grout and cured for 28 days. Pull-out tests were then conducted at a controlled rate of 1 mm/min with a 1000 KN MTS apparatus to determine the pull-out performance of the FRP bolts. Furthermore, a comparative analysis involved testing a 20 mm fully grouted steel rock bolt with a 150 mm encapsulation length, was conducted. The results indicated that the axial bearing capacity of the FRP bolts varied between 84 KN and 110 KN, while the steel bar exhibited a capacity of 144.5 KN. The load-displacement curves analysis showed that steel rebar rock bolts absorb more energy during the debonding process compared to the FRP bolts. Along with pull-out tests, the shear behaviour of the FRP bolts was also determined by conducting single and double-shearing tests. With this aim, after casting the concrete blocks in a double-shearing box, three different pretension values were applied to the samples. The results showed that pretension values had a direct impact on the displacement values, while they did not have a direct impact on the peak shear force values. Additionally, the tensile properties of the FRP and the steel bolts showed a different behaviour in the uniaxial tensile test.

Society and ultimately humankind are entirely dependent on the outputs of the mining industry for their existence and development. The mining industry cannot, however, operate without the input of properly educated mining engineers. Unfortunately, in a significant number of countries the mining industry is not seen as an attractive employer and hence the number of student applications and mining schools are in decline. The paper examines the position in the UK, where only one of previously seven mining schools survives - Camborne School of Mines. The ”system” that controls the provision of mining engineering education in UK Universities is described, with the controlling stakeholders that require special attention identified. Examples of the work being done to both counter the negativity of these controlling stakeholders, support the stakeholders with influence and boost positive interest in the industry among potential students are presented. While it is likely that Camborne School of Mines will continue to provide mining engineering degrees, unless additional steps are taken there will be no Scottish graduates. A scheme to overcome this involving collaboration between a Scottish university and a foreign university mining school is proposed, as part of a proposed international collaboration addressing the decline in graduates.

This paper presents the findings of a program of work to determine the height of mining induced fracturing and the height of groundwater depressurisation above a longwall panel. The program of work utilised two fully cored boreholes drilled from surface at Tahmoor Colliery, located southwest of Sydney in the Southern Coalfields in New South Wales. The boreholes were drilled adjacent to and over a subcritical longwall panel, one before and one after extraction of the longwall panel. Field measurements of the geotechnical and hydrological ground conditions in the pre and post mining boreholes were compared. Three geomechanical zones were determined in the overburden above the extracted longwall panel which correlate with ground water and hydraulic conductivity measurements. The results show that the determined height of caving and the start of a reduced pore pressure profile (from hydrostatic) coincide at the same height above the mining horizon. The reduction in pore pressure from hydrostatic to zero pore pressure is a gradual transition, meaning the height of depressurisation (zero pore pressure) and height of caving do not necessarily coincide. This work program provides a comprehensive dataset of changes in pore pressure, conductivity and caving for the horizons within the overburden above a longwall panel at Tahmoor Colliery. The results from this program of work reinforce the results from a previous work program at Tahmoor Colliery detailing the height of caving and height of depressurisation. The outcomes of this program are useful in providing an understanding for groundwater modelling above extracted longwall panels.

Bedding plane shears are horizons within horizontally bedded strata along which differential sliding movements occur on bedding planes. These sliding movements may occur as a result of natural processes or as a result of mining-induced subsidence movements. The low strength in shear and lateral persistence of bedding plane shears has a profound effect on ground movements around extracted longwall panels and gives rise to a broad range of phenomena that aren’t widely understood. ACARP Project C33015 supported a desktop compilation of four decades of monitoring experience to characterise the nature, mechanical and hydrogeological properties of recognised types of bedding plane shears. This paper describes observations of movements on one of these types; bedding plane shears located close to the mining horizon. Bedding plane shears that form at or near the mining horizon contribute to phenomena that include far-field horizontal movements, horizontal stress relief effects, mining-induced seismic events, and challenging mining conditions at monoclines and geological faults. High-resolution subsidence monitoring from two mines in the Western Coalfield of NSW indicates these types of shears have residual friction angles as low as 8° allowing horizontal stress relief movements to extend 2-3 km from the edge of longwall mining generating low-level horizontal strains of 0.5 (0.3-0.7) mm/m to a distance of three times overburden depth from the goaf edge.

A novel approach has been developed to strategically identify logistical bottlenecks and the impacts that mine planning parameters might have on these at any point in time throughout life of a mine plan. An XPAC-based model is employed at a macroscopic level to understand trends and shifts in logistical strain for a timeframe up to the entire life of mine. However, on a day-to-day basis the XPAC-based model cannot, at a very detailed level, provide information to analyse if logistical strain can be alleviated through finer adjustments. The finer adjustments that can be identified and rectified, can be determined using a discrete simulation FlexSim model. The paper presents details of the FlexSim discrete simulation model and its applications.

This paper outlines a study of roof behaviour at Ulan West Mine which addressed factors such as the influence of mining direction and sequence on roadway stability; stress impacts during intersection formation; variation in strata conditions, choice and timing of support installation in relation to strata management triggers. Three-dimensional modelling of itersection formation was undertaken that included quantifying the impact of grouting cables for different roof types. This was augmented with 2D modelling to investigate immediate roof beam performance, particularly in relation to heights of softening and potential strata response. Further analysis was then undertaken using an analytical beam-column model to assess the bending behaviour of the roof and its relationship between roof convergence and support load. Several cases were examined for both Type A and Type B roof where the coal roof beam remains intact or is subjected to stress related damage. The mechanisms at play during roadway development at Ulan West involve interaction between the immediate coal roof beam, the ability of the overlying strata to carry load and the mining induced stresses imposed on these units. The combined analysis allowed an update of the Trigger Action Response Plan (TARP).

Correct estimation of coal mechanical properties, including Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio, play a crucial role in on-site coal mining design and numerical simulations of coal behaviour. Traditionally, these parameters are determined through laboratory testing of cylindrical samples using strain gauges. However, such methods have limitations due to the potential errors from strain gauge misplacement, localised measurements at the gauge placement area, and difficulty in preparing a standard-size sample from coal. To overcome these challenges, this paper assesses the applicability of the Digital Image Correlation (DIC) technique on Brazilian-sized disc-shape coal specimens. Several benchmark tests were first conducted under uniaxial compression conditions at varying loading rates to verify the technique with known materials. While more verification tests need to be conducted to account for coal intrinsic heterogeneity, the conducted trials provide promising results and demonstrate that 3D DIC of Brazilian coal samples is a simpler yet effective method for determining coal Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio.

The development of the Poly-Crystalline Diamond (PCD) bits for use in underground coal mines has historically utilised the technologies and improvements developed for the oil and gas industry. For smaller bit diameters (27 to 29 mm) utilised in development panels that have hard and/or abrasive strata in the primary bolted horizon, the technology improvements of the PCD cutters themselves can be applied from the oil and gas industry. However, the design of the drill bit body needed input from an alternative influence to drive improvements in penetration rates, increased bolt load transfer and decreased loading on the drilling equipment. This paper will discuss these alternative influences and their involvement in the design changes that were investigated and eventually implemented in prototypes, proven in a test rig and ultimately field trialled.

The geographical setting of Amrun bauxite mine in Queensland, coupled with its pronounced wet season, poses significant operational challenges due to pit inundation. The current water management solutions, such as the shared pumping infrastructure with the sister mine, Andoom, are insufficient, leading to notable operational inefficiencies and financial implications. This paper is aimed at assessing the impact of pit inundation during the wet season on the mining operations at the Amrun mine and evaluating potential strategies for infrastructure upgrades to mitigate these operational challenges.

Risk assessment has two components, hazard likelihood and consequence. There appears to be some confusion in terminology within the coal mining industry that equates the term propensity with likelihood when assessing spontaneous combustion risk. Spontaneous combustion propensity is determined using a number of index parameters that are obtained using specific test procedures. However, the propensity ratings obtained are based on a relative scale and in isolation they are effectively only a measure of the coal intrinsic reactivity. For some indices (R70 and SHT) this reactivity measure relates to the low temperature end of the self-heating spectrum and in others (CPT) it relates to the high temperature end, which is really an indication of the ease of ignition once the coal has dried out. From a mining management perspective, operations are trying to manage and control the risk of creating a heating at the low temperature end of the scale so that they do not reach the ignition phase. This paper will present a new approach to spontaneous combustion hazard likelihood assessment of low reactivity coals using a chart that incorporates the two main heat balance factors governing self-heating over time, namely the intrinsic reactivity and moisture content of the coal. Examples will be presented of the application of this chart to site-specific hazard likelihood assessment.

This paper introduces a finite element (FE) method to simulate the impact of confinement conditions on the axial load-bearing capacity of fully grouted rock bolts. The study utilises a combination of experimental and numerical modelling techniques. For this purpose, two different sizes of steel sleeves were used as confinements with a diameter of 23 mm and 50 mm. The samples were cured after embedding and grouting the bolt for 28 days. Subsequently, pull-out tests were conducted to assess the axial load-bearing capacity of the samples. The results showed a direct correlation between increased confinement diameter and higher values of ultimate pull-out capacities. In addition to the experimental tests, numerical models employing ABAQUS software were developed to simulate and analyse the debonding mechanism along the bolts. By defining the appropriate model geometry, materials properties, boundary conditions, and interactions, the simulation revealed that the debonding mechanism occurred at the bolt-grout interface. Eventually, a comparison between the load-displacement curves derived from the experimental tests and the numerical simulations highlighted the effectiveness of the numerical model in accurately representing the axial load transfer mechanism within the fully encapsulated rock bolts.

This paper considers the impact of AI on the mining industry and presents a framework that mining companies can use to develop an AI strategy. It also explores how many mining jobs – if any - might be replaced by AI. First, situational awareness is established by considering the impact the digital age is likely to have on the mining industry with a specific focus on what it means for humans, i.e. in the AI enabled world, which tasks are assigned to AI, which tasks are assigned to humans and which tasks will require collaboration between AI and humans: the question “Who does what?” is asked. A technique called Wardley Mapping is applied to explore a case study where the mining industry is already benefitting from adoption of data and digital technology to mechanisation of longwalls to transform the mining value chain, and the introduction of AI is examined. Given the nature of longwall mining in Australia, it seems possible that rather than displacing a significant number of jobs, AI can be used to enhance the performance of existing personnel. A rudimentary example of how an AI-powered virtual assistant could assist a Deputy in reacting to an emergency is provided to illustrate that AI will also play in shaping the future roles of the professions. Finally, key factors that will enable a mining organisation to embrace, adopt, embed and sustain value from AI are identified.

This article introduces the three newly discovered essays written by Gramsci while still at the Dettori high school in Cagliari and goes into why they have only recently come to light, to then be published in 2022 in the Italian newspaper “Il fatto quotidiano”. The essays turned up in the family papers of a Communist Party parliamentarian from Milan, Francesco Scotti, a Spanish Civil War veteran and after that a partisan leader (in the French Maquis and then in Italy) among whose friends in Milan were prople associated with Gramscian activities, among them Carlo Gramsci, the younger brother of Antonio. It seems likely that Scotti was given these essays by someone in this group to hand them over to the PCI in Rome, probably to Togliatti, but neglected to do this and so they remained forgotten for years. The essays themselves can with certainty be dated to Gramsci’s last year at the high school since the signature of the professore is Vittorio Amedeo Arullani, who had replaced Raffa Garzia as Gramsci’s Italian teacher. The essay subjects assigned were quotations from the sixteenth century writer Giovanni Della Casa’s treatise Il Galateo (in recent English versions The Rules of Polite Behavior) and two of Italy’s most important poets, Giacomo Leopardi and Giosuè Carducci. For all these essays by Gramsci, Arullani gave positive judgments and very high grades. One sees a student very open to the contemporary currents of thought, whose essays prefigure themes that later come explicitly to the fore both in his journalistic work and in the Prison Notebooks (artistic currents and aesthetics, Americanism, the “mummification” of culture, the figure of Stenterello, Kant’s “beheading” of God, Jesuitism and so on).

This article is the Italian Introduzione to the three newly discovered essays written by Gramsci while still at the Liceo Dettori in Cagliari. It goes into why they have only recently come to light, and then published in 2022 in the newspaper “Il fatto quotidiano”. The essays turned up in the family papers of the Milanese Communist Party parliamentarian, Francesco Scotti, a Spanish Civil War veteran and then partisan leader (the Maquis and then in Italy). In Milan he had friends associated with Gramscian activities, among them Carlo Gramsci, the younger brother of Antonio. A likely explanation is that Scotti was given these essays by someone in this group to hand them over to the PCI in Rome, probably to Togliatti, but neglected to do this and so they remained forgotten for years. The essays themselves can with certainty be dated to Gramsci’s last year at the high school since the signature of the professore is Vittorio Amedeo Arullani, who had replaced Raffa Garzia as Gramsci’s Italian teacher. The essay subjects assigned were quotations from the sixteenth century writer Giovanni Della Casa’s treatise, Il Galateo, and the two poets, Leopardi and Carducci. For all of these essays Arullani gave positive judgments and very high grades. One sees a student very open to the currents of thought of the period, whose essays prefigure themes that later come explicitly to the fore in his journalistic work and even in the Prison Notebooks (artistic currents and aesthetics, Americanism, the “mummification” of culture, the figure of Stenterello, Kant’s “beheading” of God, Jesuitism and so on).

Localisation of humanitarian aid has emerged as a major issue after the World Humanitarian Summit in 2016 which emphasised the importance of locally-led response as a corrective to power imbalances in the humanitarian system. However, the practical complexities of localised humanitarian aid are yet to be fully discussed. This paper aims to examine the concept of localisation in humanitarian aid through a case study of a local non-governmental organisation, the Cambodian Children's Trust (CCT), in Cambodia. Drawing on the framework of localisation proposed by Baguios et al., (2021), we analyse the application of localisation of child protection programs run by CCT. We provide a holistic understanding of how localisation is conducted in practice, and the impacts it has on the wider humanitarian sector. Our study illustrates that power can be effectively developed to local entities and localisation with empowerment could be achieved despite highly challenging conditions.

In this paper, the authors explore the conditions that support belonging in remote VU Block Model® teaching. They examine the role of arts-based, embodied pedagogy in promoting engagement in learning, connection between students, and between students and teachers, and in an environment in which vulnerability and risk-taking in learning is valued. A discussion of belonging in higher education and the practice of embodied learning is followed by the reflections of seven participants. These participants were students in a remotely taught, arts-based higher education block unit, which had been mindfully adapted to retain the embodied nature of delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic. After students’ participation in focus group interviews, the lead author constructed found poetry from their comments and reflections. This found poetry forms the dataset through which the questions of belonging are explored. The researchers found that when explored through the lens of the Community of Inquiry Framework, embodied and arts-based practices provided opportunities for students to develop a sense of belonging, deepen understanding of lived experiences, and realise higher education and career goals. This study elevates the voices of students, providing opportunities for higher education teachers to consider the importance of belonging for student success in remote, intensive, and on-campus modes of delivery.

This paper is framed by Nick Zepke’s, Vicki Trowler’s, and Paul Trowler’s concept of student engagement being “chaotic”, suffering from “indigestion” and “fuzziness”. This study was conducted at a UK higher education institution that recently moved to a “block and blend” delivery approach. We investigated what students and staff think engagement looks like in an intensive block and blend learning context. Data were gathered from students and staff via an online survey, which consisted of both scaled and open-ended questions. Findings are synthesised in an elemental map, providing a comparison of students and staff perceptions of engagement. Specifically, students and staff thought engagement in an intensive block and blend context entailed participation and active learning; a mindset that included enthusiasm, interest, focus, and enjoyment; timely completion of assessments; relationships with peers and tutors; doing more than required, such as completing extra readings; and accessing help and support. Participants also identified attendance as an indicator of student engagement and determined that the university has a responsibility to create learning environments to foster student engagement. Overall, the study findings point to elements of student engagement that may be designed into intensive block and blend learning environments. These approaches are also relevant to other similar intensive learning contexts.

This study examined how academic staff responded to a cross-institutional change initiative to integrate immersive scheduling into the first-year undergraduate curriculum. Immersive scheduling, also referred to as block or compressed delivery, sought to create a supportive first-year experience, to ease students’ transition to university. Adopting an immersive approach is associated with considerable change as academic staff adapt their practice to accommodate the compressed time frame of modules and embrace learning and assessment methods associated with this delivery format. In this study, we undertook semi-structured interviews with 17 academics who were leading the development and delivery of immersive modules or supporting the teaching and learning initiative. Our data indicated that academics played a significant role in the acceptance or rejection of the vision for immersive scheduling. Acceptance was reliant on academics recognising value in the vision, and this varied depending on the extent to which it resonated with local practice. In some cases, the move to immersive scheduling represented a valued opportunity to update pedagogic and assessment practices. However, in other contexts, academic resistance led to dilution of key elements of the vision, with compliance rather than innovation being the outcome. This study also highlights the value of using a combination of module delivery formats to mitigate recognised drawbacks associated with immersive delivery. We conclude this paper by proposing recommendations to support the future development of immersive scheduling in higher education institutions.

Work-integrated learning (WIL) is a well-established educational strategy with acknowledged benefits for student learning and employability. This paper explores and documents Intensive WIL, where students undertake short or condensed WIL experiences, ranging from 35 to 400 hours. Four case studies from different universities, designed for different purposes, using either placement or project approaches, and with different student cohorts, showcase the flexibility and adaptability of this model of WIL. Drawing on existing quality frameworks developed for WIL, a new, dedicated set of quality indicators was developed to evaluate examples of intensive WIL, as demonstrated in the case studies. This new framework places greater emphasis on the WIL experience itself, which has had little previous attention. The study confirms that given the right conditions, and used for the right purposes, Intensive WIL delivers quality experiences for students. Unique challenges of Intensive WIL include: sourcing projects with appropriate scope and complexity that are achievable and from which students will learn; ensuring students have command of previous theoretical concepts, as there may be little time to get them up to speed during Intensive WIL; ensuring all stakeholders understand their roles and responsibilities for smooth operation; and effective communication between workplace and university staff, as there is less time to recover from any difficult situations that may arise.

Localisation of humanitarian aid has emerged as a major issue after the World Humanitarian Summit in 2016 which emphasised the importance of locally-led response as a corrective to power imbalances in the humanitarian system. However, the practical complexities of localised humanitarian aid are yet to be fully discussed. This paper aims to examine the concept of localisation in humanitarian aid through a case study of a local non-governmental organisation, the Cambodian Children's Trust (CCT), in Cambodia. Drawing on the framework of localisation proposed by Baguios et al., (2021), we analyse the application of localisation of child protection programs run by CCT. We provide a holistic understanding of how localisation is conducted in practice, and the impacts it has on the wider humanitarian sector. Our study illustrates that power can be effectively developed to local entities and localisation with empowerment could be achieved despite highly challenging conditions.

Universities across the globe are considering how to effect meaningful change in their higher education (HE) delivery in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic and shifting student learning preferences. This paper reports on a descriptive case- study of whole-of-institution curriculum reform at one regional Australian university, where more traditional 13-week semesters have been replaced with a 6-week immersive block model known as the Southern Cross Model. Based on a synthesis of literature in best practice HE pedagogy and principles, the case study draws on both a review of policy and staff interviews (N = 5) to outline the key changes necessary for successful HE transformation. Analysis revealed themes related to the vital roles of leadership, capacity building, monitoring the transition, staff adoption, and adequate technical systems in implementing a radical, multifaceted institutional transformation. Implications for practice at institutions considering reforming their curriculum model are also discussed. The findings from this case study indicate that an institutional transformation to an immersive block model requires both a considered change in institutional policy and process, as well as the appropriate resourcing of roles, governance committees, technical solutions, and, importantly, communities of practice.

Work-integrated learning (WIL) is a well-established educational strategy with acknowledged benefits for student learning and employability. This paper explores and documents Intensive WIL, where students undertake short or condensed WIL experiences, ranging from 35 to 400 hours. Four case studies from different universities, designed for different purposes, using either placement or project approaches, and with different student cohorts, showcase the flexibility and adaptability of this model of WIL. Drawing on existing quality frameworks developed for WIL, a new, dedicated set of quality indicators was developed to evaluate examples of intensive WIL, as demonstrated in the case studies. This new framework places greater emphasis on the WIL experience itself, which has had little previous attention. The study confirms that given the right conditions, and used for the right purposes, Intensive WIL delivers quality experiences for students. Unique challenges of Intensive WIL include: sourcing projects with appropriate scope and complexity that are achievable and from which students will learn; ensuring students have command of previous theoretical concepts, as there may be little time to get them up to speed during Intensive WIL; ensuring all stakeholders understand their roles and responsibilities for smooth operation; and effective communication between workplace and university staff, as there is less time to recover from any difficult situations that may arise.

This paper is framed by Nick Zepke’s, Vicki Trowler’s, and Paul Trowler’s concept of student engagement being “chaotic”, suffering from “indigestion” and “fuzziness”. This study was conducted at a UK higher education institution that recently moved to a “block and blend” delivery approach. We investigated what students and staff think engagement looks like in an intensive block and blend learning context. Data were gathered from students and staff via an online survey, which consisted of both scaled and open-ended questions. Findings are synthesised in an elemental map, providing a comparison of students and staff perceptions of engagement. Specifically, students and staff thought engagement in an intensive block and blend context entailed participation and active learning; a mindset that included enthusiasm, interest, focus, and enjoyment; timely completion of assessments; relationships with peers and tutors; doing more than required, such as completing extra readings; and accessing help and support. Participants also identified attendance as an indicator of student engagement and determined that the university has a responsibility to create learning environments to foster student engagement. Overall, the study findings point to elements of student engagement that may be designed into intensive block and blend learning environments. These approaches are also relevant to other similar intensive learning contexts.

This study examined how academic staff responded to a cross-institutional change initiative to integrate immersive scheduling into the first-year undergraduate curriculum. Immersive scheduling, also referred to as block or compressed delivery, sought to create a supportive first-year experience, to ease students’ transition to university. Adopting an immersive approach is associated with considerable change as academic staff adapt their practice to accommodate the compressed time frame of modules and embrace learning and assessment methods associated with this delivery format. In this study, we undertook semi-structured interviews with 17 academics who were leading the development and delivery of immersive modules or supporting the teaching and learning initiative. Our data indicated that academics played a significant role in the acceptance or rejection of the vision for immersive scheduling. Acceptance was reliant on academics recognising value in the vision, and this varied depending on the extent to which it resonated with local practice. In some cases, the move to immersive scheduling represented a valued opportunity to update pedagogic and assessment practices. However, in other contexts, academic resistance led to dilution of key elements of the vision, with compliance rather than innovation being the outcome. This study also highlights the value of using a combination of module delivery formats to mitigate recognised drawbacks associated with immersive delivery. We conclude this paper by proposing recommendations to support the future development of immersive scheduling in higher education institutions.

The global pandemic highlighted the need for diverse faculty development partners to ensure student and faculty learning was supported, particularly in intensive modes of educational delivery. Our paper presents an institutional case study of how educational technology, in collaboration with the Center for Teaching and Learning and subject matter experts, served as untapped providers of faculty development. We detail the decision to shift to an intensive 7-week module system rather than our traditional 15-week semester in response to COVID-19. Although challenging for both faculty and students, this shift in educational delivery facilitated innovative approaches to faculty and student learning that are present on our campus today. This institutional case study highlights the role that capacity-building plays in capability development and professional learning for faculty and students alike to support effective teaching practice across diverse delivery modes.