Totally asymmetric simple exclusion process with local resetting in a resource-constrained environment.

Inspired by the process of mRNA translation, in which the stochastic degradation of mRNA-ribosome machinery is modeled by the resetting dynamics, we study an open totally asymmetric simple exclusion process with local resetting at the entry site in a resource-constrained environment. The effect of constrained resources on the stationary properties of the system has been comprehended in the form of the filling factor. The mean-field approximations are utilized to obtain stationary state features, such as density profiles and phase diagrams. The phase diagram possesses pure phases as well as coexisting phases, including a low-density-high-density phase separation, which did not manifest under periodic boundary conditions despite the system being closed there as well. The role of the resetting rate has been investigated on the stationary properties of the system, depending on how the filling factor scales with the system size. In contrast to the resetting model for infinite resources, two distinct phase transitions are observed for the smaller values of the filling factor leading to a change in the topology of the phase diagram. The impact of the resetting rate along with the finite-size effect has also been examined on the shock dynamics. All the mean-field results are found in remarkable agreement with the Monte Carlo simulations.

Modelling of transport processes: Theory and simulations.

The transport processes, being a non-equilibrium system, have been a point of interest for physicists since many years revealing and explaining several unexpected effects. Such systems are often dealt with an archetypal model, known as totally asymmetric simple exclusion process, with two different types of boundary conditions: open and periodic. Moreover, these models are analyzed in two varieties of dynamics, random sequential and parallel updates, even at the micro level which play an important role in the global dynamics of the system. On contrary to the random sequential rule, the parallel updates introduce correlations in the system. Using theoretical and numerical methods in the framework based on mean-field approaches, the system properties are analyzed in both transient and steady state.•Both the updating rules are realized using Monte Carlo simulations.•In simplest form, mean-field approach ignores all the correlations and the results coincide with the random sequential update.•Correlations are induced in the system due to parallel update, therefore, a cluster mean-field theory is also discussed to handle them.

Student Thinking in the Professional Development of College Biology Instructors: An Analysis through the Lens of Sociocultural Theory.

An important facet of inclusive, student-centered science teaching is for college instructors to reveal and respond to student thinking. Professional development (PD) provides formal settings for instructors to develop skills attending and responding to student ideas in their teaching. Using the lens of sociocultural theory, the purpose of this study was to explore the learning experiences of college instructors in long-term faculty learning communities (FLCs) that focused on student thinking. This study employed a qualitative design using semistructured interviews, analyzed through qualitative thematic analysis. We investigated the ways that social interactions focused on artifacts of student learning facilitated college instructors' internalization of knowledge about teaching and learning. We found that participants valued the social space of the FLC for the camaraderie and diverse perspectives it facilitated and that participants internalized the discussions from their FLCs in the form of new insights into student thinking and plans for improving teaching. Our data support the idea that PD for college science teaching that includes social space focused on artifacts of student learning will lead to instructor learning. Further, our data point to the fruitfulness of new research to expand our knowledge of the implications of sociocultural theory for college science PD.

Necrotizing Fasciitis Secondary to Aeromonas Infection Presenting with Septic Shock.

This report describes a case of necrotizing fasciitis presenting with septic shock due to an Aeromonas infection. The patient cut his foot while mowing the lawn and then spent time in a pool with black mold. He began feeling ill and developed swelling and a quarter-sized black area on his right lower extremity. Despite being hemodynamically unstable with systolic blood pressure in the low 70s, the patient was transferred to our facility from outside hospital 100 miles away. Upon arriving to facility, the patient appeared to be septic and the infected area of skin had grown. Irrigation and debridement were performed and appropriate antibiotic therapy was given; however, the patient subsequently died on hospital day 8. On review of the literature, cases of necrotizing fasciitis due to Aeromonas infection have been treated successfully with the aforementioned therapy; however, there is high mortality associated with these infections, many times related to a delayed diagnosis. Our patient also had multiple poor prognostic factors including hepatic dysfunction and immunosuppression.