This paper presents a novel concept in the thermodynamic derivation of phase diagrams for clay minerals that incorporates fuzzy transition zones. This new technique yields phase diagrams that have graded (fuzzy) zones of mineral occurrences and includes compositional variability within mineral groups. For the construction of these diagrams, 170 minerals belonging to nine different subgroups were used, based on a fuzzy mathematical description of their ‘grades’ or ‘belonging-ness’. Standard free energies of formation of all the minerals were derived and all possible pairs of mineral equilibria were evaluated. Relative intensities of mineral occurrences were determined and membership values of each type of mineral at various zones in a 2D or 3D space were graphically represented. Computations and graphical representations were carried out using programs developed in Mathematica. Diagrams were derived for 25°C, 1 bar with a solution phase containing Si(OH)4, K+, Na+, H+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ under conditions of gibbsite, goethite and ferrous oxide saturation. The resulting diagrams, unlike conventional phase diagrams, show multimineral assemblages, with varying occurrences of different minerals and provide a realistic representation of clay mineral occurrences formed by surface geochemical processes. They show that on the Earth’s surface, only montmorillonite can almost completely predominate the inorganic phase followed by kaolinite, illite and beidellite. Nontronite, glauconite, celadonite and vermiculite would not be neoformed in substantial amounts. A general conformity of derived phase equilibria with experimentally observed equilibria is also observed.

Clinical trials are essential in the translation of biomedical discoveries to new clinical interventions and therapeutics. Successful multisite clinical trials require qualified site investigators with an understanding of the full spectrum of processes and requirements from trial identification through closeout. New site investigators may be deterred by competing demands on their time, the complexity of administrative and regulatory processes for trial initiation and conduct, and limited access to experienced mentor networks. We established a Clinical Trialist Training Program (CTTP) and complimentary Clinical Trials Bootcamp at our institution to address these barriers and increase the number of local site investigators enabled to lead successful clinical trials. An initial cohort of four CTTP scholars received salary support with protected time, didactic training, assistance with study identification and start-up navigation, and quarterly progress meetings. By the end of the 12-month program, this initial cohort identified 33 new trials, utilized feasibility assessments, and reported being on target to sustain their protected time from new clinical trials. Bootcamp attendees demonstrated increased knowledge of resources, offices, and processes associated with clinical trial conduct. Our results support providing compensated protected time, training, and access to experienced clinical research professionals to enable clinicians to become successful site investigators.

Despite high employment rates and starting salaries for qualified graduates of agribusiness, agricultural, and applied economics (AAAE) programs, several AAAE departments have experienced years of low enrollment. This study offers insight into how AAAE programs can more effectively market themselves and recruit undergraduate students through analysis of a nationwide survey of college and department personnel and a statewide survey of high school students. Findings reveal important differences between students’ preferred information and message sources and those currently used. Gaps in understanding of AAAE across administrative units are also identified. Specific program awareness, marketing, and student recruitment recommendations are offered.

Noam Chomsky and other linguists and psychologists have suggested that human linguistic behavior is somehow governed by a mental representation of a transformational grammar. Challenges to this controversial claim have often been met by invoking an explicitly computational perspective: It makes perfect sense to suppose that a grammar could be represented in the memory of a computational device and that this grammar could govern the device's use of a language. This paper urges, however, that the claim that humans are such a device is unsupported and that it seems unlikely that linguists and psychologists really want to claim any such thing. Evidence for the linguists' original claim is drawn from three main sources: the explanation of language comprehension and other linguistic abilities; evidence for formal properties of the rules of the grammar; and the explanation of language acquisition. It is argued in this paper that none of these sources provides support for the view that the grammar governs language processing in something like the way a program governs the operation of a programmed machine. The computational approach, on the contrary, suggests ways in which linguistic abilities can be explained without the attribution of any explicit representation of rules governing linguistic behavior.

The effectiveness of humanitarian programs normally is evaluated according to a limited number of pre-defined objectives. These objectives typically represent only selected positive expected impacts of program interventions and as such, are inadequate benchmarks for understanding the overall effectiveness of aid.This is because programs also have unexpected impacts (both positive and negative) as well as expected negative impacts and expected positive impacts beyond the program objectives.The authors contend that these other categories of program impacts also should be assessed, and suggest a methodology for doing so that draws on input from the perspectives of beneficiaries. This paper includes examples of the use of this methodology in the field. Finally, the authors suggest future directions for improving this type of expanded assessment and advocate for its widespread use, both within and without the field of disaster response.

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is widely used in the science of materials and different parameters were developed to characterize the surface roughness. In a previous work, we studied the surface topography with fractal dimension at low scale and two parameters at high scale by using the variogram, that is, variance vs. step log–log graph, of a SEM image. Those studies were carried out with the FERImage program, previously developed by us. To verify the previously accepted hypothesis by working with only an image, it is indispensable to have reliable three-dimensional (3D) surface data. In this work, a new program (EZEImage) to characterize 3D surface topography in SEM has been developed. It uses fast cross correlation and dynamic programming to obtain reliable dense height maps in a few seconds which can be displayed as an image where each gray level represents a height value. This image can be used for the FERImage program or any other software to obtain surface topography characteristics. EZEImage also generates anaglyph images as well as characterizes 3D surface topography by means of a parameter set to describe amplitude properties and three functional indices for characterizing bearing and fluid properties.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate competence development in palliative treatment, nursing and care in students (n = 25) undergoing a two-year postgraduate education program in palliation at a university college in Norway.

Methods: A questionnaire was handed out on five occasions during the education period.

Results: Results showed that the students rated their competence level as between some competence and good competence before entering the course. However, the competence level rose throughout the course period, and at the end of their education most of the students perceived themselves at a very good or extremely good competence level.

Significance of results: Statistically significant differences in all questions measuring competence in palliation were found on all occasions. Further studies are needed to confirm the effect of education on students' perceived competence development and whether it has a positive impact on clinical practice.