Understanding STEM‐focused elementary schools: Case study of Walter Bracken STEAM Academy

Increasingly, STEM focused high schools are used prepare students for college STEM majors and launch them into STEM careers. Yet a new focus on STEM education at the elementary levels suggests that the importance of STEM education is much broader than a preparation for workforce needs in high school or college. This paper describes a case study designed to articulate the mission and design of an effective and nationally recognized STEM‐focused elementary school. As described through the six most impactful components of STEM‐focused elementary school design at Walter Bracken STEAM Academy, the case study emphasizes the school's strong and inclusive school leadership, with staff organized into grade level groups empowered to innovate and honing their teaching practices. External partnerships are leveraged to broaden student learning opportunities. Students at Bracken engage in active learning opportunities and multidisciplinary lessons where STEM is used as a way of thinking and as a way to coherently combine content into active learning opportunities that are engaging for learners. By organizing the structural components of an exemplary STEM‐focused elementary school, we hope to deliver actionable reforms for elementary schools wanting to increase their STEM‐focused offerings.     

A two‐grid stabilized mixed finite element method for Darcy‐Forchheimer model

A two‐grid stabilized mixed finite element method based on pressure projection stabilization is proposed for the two‐dimensional Darcy‐Forchheimer model. We use the derivative of a smooth function, , to approximate the derivative of in constructing the two‐grid algorithm. The two‐grid method consists of solving a small nonlinear system on the coarse mesh and then solving a linear system on the fine mesh. There are a substantial reduction in computational cost. We prove the existence and uniqueness of solution of the discrete schemes on the coarse grid and the fine grid and obtain error estimates for the two‐grid algorithm. Finally, some numerical experiments are carried out to verify the accuracy and efficiency of the method.     

Comparing methods for design follow‐up: revisiting a metal‐cutting case study

Adding another fraction to an initial fractional factorial design is often required to resolve ambiguities with respect to aliasing of factorial effects from the initial experiment and/or to improve estimation precision. Multiple techniques for design follow‐up exist; the choice of which is often made on the basis of the initial design and its analysis, resources available, experimental objectives, and so on. In this paper, we compare four design follow‐up strategies: foldover, semifoldover, D‐optimal, and Bayesian (MD‐optimal) in the context of a metal‐cutting case study previously utilized to compare fractional factorials of different run sizes. Follow‐up designs are compared for each of a , , and Plackett–Burman initial experiments. Our empirical results suggest that a single follow‐up strategy does not outperform all others in every situation. This case study serves to illustrate design augmentation possibilities for practitioners and provides some basis for the selection of a follow‐up experiment. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A finite‐volume scheme for the multidimensional quantum drift‐diffusion model for semiconductors

A finite‐volume scheme for the stationary unipolar quantum drift‐diffusion equations for semiconductors in several space dimensions is analyzed. The model consists of a fourth‐order elliptic equation for the electron density, coupled to the Poisson equation for the electrostatic potential, with mixed Dirichlet‐Neumann boundary conditions. The numerical scheme is based on a Scharfetter‐Gummel type reformulation of the equations. The existence of a sequence of solutions to the discrete problem and its numerical convergence to a solution to the continuous model are shown. Moreover, some numerical examples in two space dimensions are presented. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 27: 1483–1510, 2011     

A matrix rational Lanczos method for model reduction in large‐scale first‐ and second‐order dynamical systems

In the present paper, we describe an adaptive modified rational global Lanczos algorithm for model‐order reduction problems using multipoint moment matching‐based methods. The major problem of these methods is the selection of some interpolation points. We first propose a modified rational global Lanczos process and then we derive Lanczos‐like equations for the global case. Next, we propose adaptive techniques for choosing the interpolation points. Second‐order dynamical systems are also considered in this paper, and the adaptive modified rational global Lanczos algorithm is applied to an equivalent state space model. Finally, some numerical examples will be given.     

(CMMSE paper) A finite‐difference model for indoctrination dynamics

In this work, a system of non‐linear difference equations is employed to model the opinion dynamics between a small group of agents (the target group) and a very persuasive agent (the indoctrinator). Two scenarios are investigated: the indoctrination of a homogeneous target group, in which each agent grants the same weight to his (or her) partner's opinion and the indoctrination of a heterogenous target group, in which each agent may grant a different weight to his or her partner's opinion. Simulations are performed to study the required times by the indoctrinator to convince a group. Initially, these groups are in a consensus about a doctrine different to that of the ideologist. The interactions between the agents are pairwise.     

A fractional‐order model for chronic lymphocytic leukemia and immune system interactions

In this study, a mathematical, fractional‐order model was developed for B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia, with immune system, and then analyzed. Interactions between B leukemia cells, natural killer cells, cytotoxic T cells, and T‐helper cells are considered to be incorporated into a system consisting of four fractional differential equations. For estimation of the parameters, clinical data of six patients were used. By numerical solution of the system, the interactions between the leukemia cell population and the immune system cell populations for values of α ∈ (0,1) at different times were explained. By determining points of equilibrium and stability of the system were met. Bifurcation analysis showed that use of the fractional‐order model, figure out unpredictable behaviors of the system such as saddle‐node, bistability and hysteresis phenomenon occurred in the system by changing the values of some of the parameters, it was predictable.     

A stochastic model for a general load‐sharing system under overload condition

A load‐sharing parallel system functions if at least one unit in the system is functioning and the surviving units share the load. In most of research on load‐sharing system, the performance of the system has been studied only for the case when the lifetimes of components in the system follow exponential distributions. In this paper a load‐sharing parallel system is considered when the lifetimes of the units in the system are any continuous random variables. The reliability function of the system is derived and the problem of load allocation is also considered. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A multiresolution space‐time adaptive scheme for the bidomain model in electrocardiology

The bidomain model of electrical activity of myocardial tissue consists of a possibly degenerate parabolic PDE coupled with an elliptic PDE for the transmembrane and extracellular potentials, respectively. This system of two scalar PDEs is supplemented by a time‐dependent ODE modeling the evolution of the gating variable. In the simpler subcase of the monodomain model, the elliptic PDE reduces to an algebraic equation. Since typical solutions of the bidomain and monodomain models exhibit wavefronts with steep gradients, we propose a finite volume scheme enriched by a fully adaptive multiresolution method, whose basic purpose is to concentrate computational effort on zones of strong variation of the solution. Time adaptivity is achieved by two alternative devices, namely locally varying time stepping and a Runge‐Kutta‐Fehlberg‐type adaptive time integration. A series of numerical examples demonstrates that these methods are efficient and sufficiently accurate to simulate the electrical activity in myocardial tissue with affordable effort. In addition, the optimal choice of the threshold for discarding nonsignificant information in the multiresolution representation of the solution is addressed, and the numerical efficiency and accuracy of the method is measured in terms of CPU time speed‐up, memory compression, and errors in different norms. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq, 2010     

A primal‐dual method for the Meyer model of cartoon and texture decomposition

In this paper, we study the original Meyer model of cartoon and texture decomposition in image processing. The model, which is a minimization problem, contains an l₁‐based TV‐norm and an l_∞‐based G‐norm. The main idea of this paper is to use the dual formulation to represent both TV‐norm and G‐norm. The resulting minimization problem of the Meyer model can be given as a minimax problem. A first‐order primal‐dual algorithm can be developed to compute the saddle point of the minimax problem. The convergence of the proposed algorithm is theoretically shown. Numerical results are presented to show that the original Meyer model can decompose better cartoon and texture components than the other testing methods.     

A block‐centered finite difference method for Darcy–Forchheimer model with variable Forchheimer number

A block‐centered finite difference scheme is introduced to solve the nonlinear Darcy–Forchheimer equation with variable Forchheimer number, in which the velocity and pressure can be approximated simultaneously. For variable Forchheimer number the second‐order error estimates for both pressure and velocity are established on nonuniform rectangular grid. An iteration process is given to solve the nonlinear system. Numerical experiments using the scheme show the consistency of the convergence rates of the presented methods with the theoretical analysis. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 31: 1603–1622, 2015     

A modified Leslie–Gower predator–prey model with ratio‐dependent functional response and alternative food for the predator

In this work, a modified Leslie–Gower predator–prey model is analyzed, considering an alternative food for the predator and a ratio‐dependent functional response to express the species interaction. The system is well defined in the entire first quadrant except at the origin ( 0 , 0 ) . Given the importance of the origin ( 0 , 0 ) as it represents the extinction of both populations, it is convenient to provide a continuous extension of the system to the origin. By changing variables and a time rescaling, we obtain a polynomial differential equations system, which is topologically equivalent to the original one, obtaining that the non‐hyperbolic equilibrium point ( 0 , 0 ) in the new system is a repellor for all parameter values. Therefore, our novel model presents a remarkable difference with other models using ratio‐dependent functional response. We establish conditions on the parameter values for the existence of up to two positive equilibrium points; when this happen, one of them is always a hyperbolic saddle point, and the other can be either an attractor or a repellor surrounded by at least one limit cycle. We also show the existence of a separatrix curve dividing the behavior of the trajectories in the phase plane. Moreover, we establish parameter sets for which a homoclinic curve exits, and we show the existence of saddle‐node bifurcation, Hopf bifurcation, Bogdanov–Takens bifurcation, and homoclinic bifurcation. An important feature in this model is that the prey population can go to extinction; meanwhile, population of predators can survive because of the consumption of alternative food in the absence of prey. In addition, the prey population can attain their carrying capacity level when predators go to extinction. We demonstrate that the solutions are non‐negatives and bounded (dissipativity and permanence of population in many other works). Furthermore, some simulations to reinforce our mathematical results are shown, and we further discuss their ecological meanings. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A numerical approach based on ln‐shifted Legendre polynomials for solving a fractional model of pollution

The model of pollution for a system of 3 lakes interconnected by channels is extended using Caputo‐Hadamard fractional derivatives of different orders α_i∈(0,1), i=1,2,3. A numerical approach based on ln‐shifted Legendre polynomials is proposed to solve the considered fractional model. No discretization is needed in our approach. Some numerical experiments are provided to illustrate the presented method.     

A high resolution finite difference method for a model of structured susceptible‐infected populations coupled with the environment

We develop a general model describing a structured susceptible‐infected (SI) population coupled with the environment. This model applies to problems arising in ecology, epidemiology, and cell biology. The model consists of a system of quasilinear hyperbolic partial differential equations coupled with a system of nonlinear ordinary differential equations that represents the environment. We develop a second‐order high resolution finite difference scheme to numerically solve the model. Convergence of this scheme to a weak solution with bounded total variation is proved. Numerical simulations are provided to demonstrate the high‐resolution property of the scheme and an application to a multi‐host wildlife disease model is explored.© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 33: 1420–1458, 2017     

A multi‐regional epidemic model for controlling the spread of Ebola: awareness,treatment, and travel‐blocking optimal control approaches

Ebola virus disease (EVD) can rapidly cause death to animals and people, for less than 1month. In addition, EVD can emerge in one region and spread to its neighbors in unprecedented durations. Such cases were reported in Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia. Thus, by blocking free travelers, traders, and transporters, EVD has had also impacts on economies of those countries. In order to find effective strategies that aim to increase public knowledge about EVD and access to possible treatment while restricting movements of people coming from regions at high risk of infection, we analyze three different optimal control approaches associated with awareness campaigns, treatment, and travel‐blocking operations that health policy‐makers could follow in the war on EVD. Our study is based on the application of Pontryagin's maximum principle, in a multi‐regional epidemic model we devise here for controlling the spread of EVD. The model is in the form of multi‐differential systems that describe dynamics of susceptible, infected, and removed populations belonging to p different geographical domains with three control functions incorporated. The forward–backward sweep method with integrated progressive‐regressive Runge–Kutta fourth‐order schemes is followed for resolving the multi‐points boundary value problems obtained. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A new nonconforming finite element with a conforming finite element approximation for a coupled continuum pipe‐flow/Darcy model in Karst aquifers

Numerical method is considered for a coupled continuum pipe‐flow/Darcy model describing flow in porous media with an embedded conduit pipe. A new nonconforming element is constructed to solve the Darcy equation on porous matrix. The existence and uniqueness of the approximation solution are deduced. Optimal error estimates are obtained in and norms. Some numerical examples show the accuracy and efficiency of the presented method. With the same number of nodal‐points and the same amount of computation, the results using the new nonconforming element are much better than those by both conforming element and Wilson nonconforming element on the same mesh. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 32: 778–798, 2016