Extended Ultimate-Pit-Limit Methodology for Optimizing Surface-to-Underground Mining Transition in Metal Mines

The transition from surface mining to underground is a critical issue for metal mines. The commonly cited procedure cored by ultimate-pit-limit (UPL) methodology is restricted to maximize the profit from both surface and underground mining, due to the absence of the integration of the profit from either of them. Under the target for such maximization, this study proposes a new optimization approach, which directly relates the design of open-pit limit and underground stopes, by equalizing the marginal profit from either surface or underground mining. The variation of the crown pillar size is involved in this approach. The proposed approach is applied to the Dagushan iron mine, and results show the total profit increased from 3.79 billion CNYs (original design by conventional UPL methodology) to 4.17 billion CNYs (optimal design by the proposed approach), by 9.91%. Moreover, the marginal profit from surface and underground mining, as well as total profit, of all possible designs of surface-to-underground mining transition in Dagushan iron mine is calculated to validate the proposed approach. When the marginal profits satisfy the criterion of the proposed approach, the maximum value of the total profit appears, and this demonstrates the proposed approach is robust to maximize the total profit in surface-to-underground mining transition. This work contributes to existing literature studies primarily from practical aspect, by providing a unified approach to optimize the transition from surface to underground mining.

The relationship between the President of the Republic of Kosovo and the Assembly in general and in particular in the time period 2011-2016

The Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo in its basic provisions has defined the form of government and separation of state powers, as a fundamental principle of democracy, where the President of the Republic of Kosovo is not part of any of the state powers, but the constitutional powers he exercises affect that he has connections with all state powers. This paper addresses the relation of the President of the Republic of Kosovo with the legislative power, including the exercise of some of his constitutional powers, namely the convening of the constitutive session of the Assembly, the dissolution of the Assembly and the annual speech of the President in the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo. The above-mentioned competencies, in addition to the theoretical aspect, are also analyzed in the practical aspect when these constitutional competencies of the President were materialized by President Jahjaga during the mandate 2011-2016. Also, the political stalemate and the actions taken by the President, Mrs. Atifete Jahjaga for his overcoming, criticisms and recommendations of the European Commission in the Progress Reports regarding the political stalemate in the country. since the declaration of Kosovo as an independent state in 2008, it has managed to complete a full constitutional mandate, five years, unlike its predecessors and successors until 2019. Therefore, this paper aims to elaborate the exercise of some constitutional powers and the practice of one of the most important constitutional institutions in the Republic of Kosovo, that of the President of the Republic of Kosovo.

Integral estimation of activity of entrepreneurial universities: practical aspect

Investigated problem. Implementation of the concept of an entrepreneurial university necessitates the formation of a system of activity indicators of educational institutions. The main scientific results. It is specified that the activity of entrepreneurial universities and educational institutions that try to comply with this concept should be systematically rated. The author analyzes modern approaches to estimation of the activity of entrepreneurial universities. The own viewpoint to this evaluation on the basis of calculation of an integrated indicator is offered. The main stages of the algorithm for estimating the activity are described. An integrated activity indicator for five universities has been calculated. The ranking of educational institutions in accordance with the calculated desegregated measures and the concept of entrepreneurial university has been held. The results of the analysis showed that the studied educational institutions from the United States are more in line with the concept of the entrepreneurial university than European ones. The area of practical use of the research results. The practical results of the study can be used in the process of estimating the activity of entrepreneurial universities. Innovative technological product. The scientific approach to the evaluation of the activity of entrepreneurial universities proposed by the author allows to form their rating, to track the position of each educational institution in the dynamics. Scope of application of the innovative technological product: educational policy at the micro- and macroeconomic levels.

QUALIFICATION OF CRIMINAL OFFENSES: THE PROBLEM OF DEFINITION AND METHODOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF THE RESEARCH

The article is devoted to the study of the qualification of criminal offenses. It has been established that this concept is used in criminal and criminal procedural legislation, but there is no formal definition of it. In the science of criminal law, there are different approaches to understanding the concept of qualifications. Based on the analysis of these approaches, the definition of the qualification of criminal offenses has been formulated. According to the author, the qualification of criminal offenses is a process of knowledge and evaluation by the authorized subject of the factual features of a socially dangerous act, isolation of legally significant ones and establishing their compliance with the legal features of a particular corpus delicti of criminal offense, including its distinction from other criminal offenses and from acts that are not criminally illegal, as a result of which the conclusion on the criminal law norm to be applied is substantiated and documented. The main methodological aspects of the study of the qualification of criminal offenses, such as praxeological, epistemological, axiological, hermeneutical, logical, practical, are highlighted. From the point of view of praxeology, the qualification of criminal offenses is considered as a special kind of human, and in particular legal, activity. In the epistemological aspect, the qualification of criminal offenses is the cognitive activity of the law enforcer. In the axiological aspect in the process of qualification the assessment of factual signs and the committed act as a whole is carried out, and also in the presence of estimation concepts in criminal law their maintenance is defined. The hermeneutic aspect of the study of the qualification of criminal offenses is to study the understanding and interpretation of criminal law. The comparison of the factual features of the committed act and the features of the specific composition of the criminal offense should be carried out using the laws, forms and methods of logic. The practical aspect of the study of the qualification of criminal offenses covers the material and procedural problems of accuracy, correctness of qualification in terms of content and form. It is concluded that the study of these aspects contributes to a deeper understanding of the concept under study. The multidimensional approach to the qualification of criminal offenses contributes to the further comprehensive development of qualification rules and substantiation of proposals for improving the practice of applying the criminal law.

Impact of training design on trainees' motivation: an empirical study

Purpose This study aims to advance understanding of the critical role of training variables (trainer performance, transfer design and an identical element) and motivation to improve work through learning (MTIWL) the least researched construct of motivation in human resource development (HRD). Design/methodology/approach A self-report online survey was conducted to collect responses from 280 managers working in different industries. Participants attended open skills training program organized by an in-house training institute in India. Findings The trainer performance and transfer design had a positive and significant impact on MTIWL. However, an identical element found no significant direct impact on MTIWL. Practical implications The trainer performance positively cultivates trainees’ MTIWL and training approaches according to trainees’ preferences improve MTIWL. The training content is needed to resemble with work assignment for enhancement of trainees MTIWL. Originality/value This study improved understanding of the impact of training variables on a comprehensive and practical aspect of trainees' motivation in HRD, MTIWL.

Dispute about the Nature of Law

The article analyzes the conditions for a dialogue between Western and post-Soviet philosophy and theory of law on the nature of law (in terms of the first), or understanding of law (in terms of the second), which would create an opportunity for the organic inclusion of the “dispute about the nature of law” elements in the context of the discussion and solving issues relevant to the post-Soviet philosophy of law, including the shift of emphasis from the theoretical to the practical aspect of the problem of the nature of law. The research begins with a general description of the peculiarities of the “discourse of legal thinking (understanding of law)” inherent in post-Soviet jurisprudence and the identification of ontological and analytical criteria for classifying the types of understanding of law (natural law, positivist, sociological) as the basis for further convergence of post-Soviet and Western experience of understanding of law. Further, the meaning of the concept of validity of law in its social, moral and legal varieties for understanding the nature of law in general and the corresponding types of such understanding are revealed. In the final part, attention is drawn to the practical aspects of the study of the nature of law, carried out in the context of “extraordinary cases” existing on the verge of law and un-law. Further analysis reveals the methodological possibilities of comprehending the concept of law through the correlation with the counter-concept of “un-law” using examples: post-Soviet discussions about the relationship between law and statute, legal and non-legal law; Hegel’s concept of right and non-right; contemporary non-positivist approach by Robert Alexy in accordance with the criterion of the “limiting border” of law according to the Radbruch formula. The conclusions summarize the provisions on the general and distinctive features of the “discourse of the nature of law” and “discourse of understanding of law”, determine the prospects for their rapprochement.

Three aspects of an empirical effect: statistical, theoretical, and practical aspect

A transparent evaluation of an empirical effect’s relevance is based on the size of effect (statistical aspect), a theoretical construct’s ability to adequately predict the effect (theoretical aspect), and the effect’s practical utility (practical aspect). In behavioral science publications, however, all three aspects are often found conflated. Already if only the practical aspect is evaluated independently of the other two aspects, disagreements about the effect’s relevance turn out to be resolvable. And, if also the statistical aspect is evaluated independently of the theoretical aspect, then the ‘smallest effect of interest’ turns out to be much larger when predicting an effect (statistical aspect) as opposed to explaining it (theoretical aspect). Crucially, behavioral science publications today typically report either small, homogenous empirical effects or large, heterogeneous ones. This pattern greatly impairs the prospects for theory construction in behavioral science, because an empirically adequate theoretical construct would have to predict a larger and more homogenous empirical effect than can be observed.

Relations between a social subject and a social institution: philosophical foundations and public policy practises

The article deals with theoretical and applied issues of the development of relationships between social (political) subjects and social (political) institutions. In the philosophical aspect, the author notes the alternativeness of theoretical approaches to understanding the role of man in society, where the idea of social institution is opposed by the philosophy of the idea of subjective human activity. In this approach the work of E. Ostrom Managing the Common. Evolution of institutions of collective activity is analyzed and the main conclusion is that the relationship between a social (political) subject and an institution develops harmoniously and integrated is rethink. In connection with disagreement with Ostroms position of the author of this work in a practical aspect, an analysis of various situations is carried out, which show three types of interaction: 1) a strong social subject a strong social institution; 2) a weak social institution a strong social subject; 3) there is a developed social institution, but there is no a social subject. The philosophical analysis allows us to conclude that the sphere of relationships between a social subject and any institution is very heterogeneous. This is most vividly illustrated in the political sphere by the example of city public policy.

TEACHING DRAMA: CHALLENGES AND BENEFITS

It has frequently been stated that the dramatic method of teaching is rather efficient in students’ personal development. The basic practical aspect of this teaching method involves the acquisition of various social and language skills which point to its immense interdisciplinary potential. Apart from the benefits, teaching drama represents a highly challenging task for educators since they are supposed to mediate between the world of artists and the recipients of their art. In order to highlight the challenges and benefits of teaching drama, the theoretical framework of the paper relies on the pioneering lecturing work of Heathcote (1976, 1998), as well as the critical insights of Freire (2005) and Nussbaum (1997). Their methodical perspectives on drama as a learning medium have been combined with the results of the internal survey the authors of the paper conducted in the period 2016-2018 by teaching Renaissance drama courses at the university level.

The distanced closeness. The model of ecumenical relations between Catholics and Protestants – sociological contexts

The article deals with the nature of ecumenical relations between Catholics and Protestants. In order to grasp their specificity, they are compared with everyday relations which are not focused on building religious unity between these Christians. This analysis served to reconstruct the model of ecumenism presented on the websites of Catholic weeklies. Additionally, a reflection has been undertaken on the possibility of supporting the ecumenical movement by these services. The analysis is conducted in the sociological perspective on the basis of empirical studies of the content of the Internet services of the Catholic weekly magazines “Gość Niedzielny” and “Niedziela”. Content analysis was applied as a research method, and the texts dedicated to the 500th anniversary of the Reformation were studied. This selection of empirical material resulted from the fact that ecumenical themes are rarely taken up in the Catholic press, and the jubilee caused greater interest in them. The sources used were also found research on interfaith relations. The analysis shows that relations between Catholics and Protestants are close and characterised by openness, but they are also marked by distance and remembrance of a difficult history. Moreover, the model of ecumenism promoted by the websites is superficial and concentrates, among other things, on its practical aspect at the expense of its spiritual and theological dimension. The websites of Catholic weekly newspapers, on the other hand, face a hitherto untapped opportunity to support the ecumenical movement.