Educators’ Perceptions of Middle Level Education in a State without a Middle Level Teacher Credential

The Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE) presents a framework of middle level education and defines five essential attributes and 18 characteristics of successful middle schools (Bishop & Harrison, 2021). Young adolescents’ unique cognitive, moral, socio-emotional, and identity development is at the center of this framework. Several empirical studies suggest that middle school teachers with specialized preparation performed better in many key areas than their counterparts with elementary or secondary licensure (Mertens et al., 2005; Ochanji et al., 2016). Despite researchers’ calls for specialized preparation of middle grades teachers. California does not offer a middle level teacher credential. The purpose of this exploratory survey study was to investigate the current state of middle level education in California

Educators\u27 Perceptions of Middle Level Education in a State Without a Middle Level Teacher Credential

Over forty U.S. states offer teacher licensing specifically in preparation for teaching middle grades students. California is not included in this number, nor do California teacher licenses (i.e., multiple subjects, single subject, and special education) require teacher preparation coursework specific to meeting the needs of early adolescents. This descriptive study presents results of an exploratory survey of California educators with middle grades experience (n=48) regarding their ability to identify essential attributes and characteristics of successful middle schools in California, their perceptions of young adolescents’ needs and responsive teaching practices, and their current opinions of middle level education in California. Findings indicate that survey respondents (1) moderately agree that middle schools in California represent the essential attributes and key characteristics of successful middle schools, (2) agree that middle level teachers’ practice is responsive to early adolescents’ developmental needs but does not emphasize student choice and community interaction, and (3) overwhelmingly agree that the overall state of middle level education in California is inadequate. These findings have implications for policymakers and teacher educators to think flexibly about middle level education and whether the needs of early adolescents are best served by the current conditions of teacher preparation in California

Genetic Susceptibility of Cultured Shrimp (\u3ci\u3ePenaeus vannamei\u3c/i\u3e) to Infectious Hypodermal and Hematopoietic Necrosis Virus and \u3ci\u3eBaculovirus penaei\u3c/i\u3e: Possible Relationship with Growth Status and Metabolic Gene Expression

Offspring of four crosses (I, II, III, and IV) of Penaeus vannamei from known high- and low-growth families were challenged with infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHHNV) and Baculovirus penaei (BP) to compare their susceptibility to these viral agents and examine the genetic component involved in disease resistance or susceptibility. Family crosses were made using broodstock from five families developed by the U.S. Marine Shrimp Farming Program. The prevalence of IHHNV infection was highest in cross I and lowest in cross III. Cross I was developed using male and female broodstock from the low-growth family 1.6, and cross III was developed using a female from the high-growth family 1.3 and a male from the low-growth family 1.6. The prevalence of BP infection at Day 4 was highest (100%) in cross IV, which was developed using a female from the low-growth family 1.4 and a male from the high-growth family 1.5. The reciprocal cross, cross III, had the lowest (68%) prevalence at Day 4 postexposure. Both crosses I and II had 88% prevalence of infection at Day 4. Despite 100% prevalence of BP infection in cross IV at 4 days, animals from this cross and cross II exhibited high survival by Day 18 (85 and 77%). On the other hand, crosses I and III (with 88 and 68% prevalence at Day 4, respectively) showed low survival at Day 18 (19 and 24%). On the basis of prevalence of infection and mortality rates, it was concluded that the susceptibility to BP in penaeid shrimp is governed by the genetic background of the parental crosses. The random amplified polymorphic DNA polymorphisms for crosses I, II, III, and IV, were 43, 45, 53, and 51%, respectively, showing no clear relationship between IHHNV and BP prevalence of infection and levels of nuclear genetic diversity. Though the mtDNA haplotypes in offspring from the different crosses were the same, major differences were observed in both steady-state levels and patterns of expression of the mitochondrial 12s rRNA in offspring obtained at various early developmental stages from each of the four crosses. The possible relationship among disease susceptibility, growth status, and expression of mitochondrial 12s rRNA is discussed in the context of a complex nuclear-cytoplasmic genetic system involved in the regulation of gene expression

Genetic Susceptibility of Cultured Shrimp (\u3ci\u3ePenaeus vannamei\u3c/i\u3e) to Infectious Hypodermal and Hematopoietic Necrosis Virus and \u3ci\u3eBaculovirus penaei\u3c/i\u3e: Possible Relationship with Growth Status and Metabolic Gene Expression

Offspring of four crosses (I, II, III, and IV) of Penaeus vannamei from known high- and low-growth families were challenged with infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHHNV) and Baculovirus penaei (BP) to compare their susceptibility to these viral agents and examine the genetic component involved in disease resistance or susceptibility. Family crosses were made using broodstock from five families developed by the U.S. Marine Shrimp Farming Program. The prevalence of IHHNV infection was highest in cross I and lowest in cross III. Cross I was developed using male and female broodstock from the low-growth family 1.6, and cross III was developed using a female from the high-growth family 1.3 and a male from the low-growth family 1.6. The prevalence of BP infection at Day 4 was highest (100%) in cross IV, which was developed using a female from the low-growth family 1.4 and a male from the high-growth family 1.5. The reciprocal cross, cross III, had the lowest (68%) prevalence at Day 4 postexposure. Both crosses I and II had 88% prevalence of infection at Day 4. Despite 100% prevalence of BP infection in cross IV at 4 days, animals from this cross and cross II exhibited high survival by Day 18 (85 and 77%). On the other hand, crosses I and III (with 88 and 68% prevalence at Day 4, respectively) showed low survival at Day 18 (19 and 24%). On the basis of prevalence of infection and mortality rates, it was concluded that the susceptibility to BP in penaeid shrimp is governed by the genetic background of the parental crosses. The random amplified polymorphic DNA polymorphisms for crosses I, II, III, and IV, were 43, 45, 53, and 51%, respectively, showing no clear relationship between IHHNV and BP prevalence of infection and levels of nuclear genetic diversity. Though the mtDNA haplotypes in offspring from the different crosses were the same, major differences were observed in both steady-state levels and patterns of expression of the mitochondrial 12s rRNA in offspring obtained at various early developmental stages from each of the four crosses. The possible relationship among disease susceptibility, growth status, and expression of mitochondrial 12s rRNA is discussed in the context of a complex nuclear-cytoplasmic genetic system involved in the regulation of gene expression