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In a recent landscape of policies in 50 states and the District of Columbia, I found that states vary significantly in how they authorize, review, and approve teacher preparation providers and programs. What these policies have in common is a requirement that all programs meet the same standards. But in practice, they do not. Too often, alternative certification program providers--particularly those that are not college or university based--are able to take advantage of state statute and regulatory loopholes that allow them to skirt rigorous standards. The pandemic, coupled with mass shootings at schools and increasingly public, politicized scrutiny about what teachers teach, placed inordinate demands on teachers, exacerbating teacher shortages. Under these circumstances, will states and districts be forced to barter away teacher quality and the equitable assignment of high-caliber teachers just to have warm bodies in front of classrooms?

IntroductionExtracellular vesicles (EVs) can potently inhibit inflammation yet there is a lack of understanding about the impact of donor characteristics on the efficacy of EVs. The goal of this study was to determine whether the sex and age of donor platelet-derived EVs (PEV) affected their ability to inhibit viral myocarditis.MethodsPEV, isolated from men and women of all ages, was compared to PEV obtained from women under 50 years of age, which we termed premenopausal PEV (pmPEV). Because of the protective effect of estrogen against myocardial inflammation, we hypothesized that pmPEV would be more effective than PEV at inhibiting myocarditis. We injected PEV, pmPEV, or vehicle control in a mouse model of viral myocarditis and examined histology, gene expression, protein profiles, and performed proteome and microRNA (miR) sequencing of EVs.ResultsWe found that both PEV and pmPEV significantly inhibited myocarditis; however, PEV was more effective, which was confirmed by a greater reduction of inflammatory cells and proinflammatory and profibrotic markers determined using gene expression and immunohistochemistry. Proteome and miR sequencing of EVs revealed that PEV miRs specifically targeted antiviral, Toll-like receptor (TLR)4, and inflammasome pathways known to contribute to myocarditis while pmPEV contained general immunoregulatory miRs.DiscussionThese differences in EV content corresponded to the differing anti-inflammatory effects of the two types of EVs on viral myocarditis.

Objective: Evaluate the relationship of cathepsin-D (CD) on disease severity and clinical outcomes for women with peripartum cardiomyopathy. Background: Cathepsin-D is a protease released during oxidative stress that cleaves prolactin (PRL) generating a 16 kDa fragment that is pro-apoptotic, anti-angiogenic, and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM). Methods: In 99 women with newly diagnosed PPCM enrolled in the Investigation in Pregnancy Associated Cardiomyopathy (IPAC) study, CD levels were assessed by ELISA from serum obtained at study entry. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was assessed by echocardiography at entry, 6, and 12-months. CD levels were compared to healthy PP and non-PP controls. Survival free from major cardiovascular events (death, transplantation, or left ventricular assist device) was determined up to 12 months post-partum (PP). Results: Mean age was 30 ± 6 years, with a baseline LVEF of 34 % ± 10. Cathepsin-D levels were higher in PPCM women (278 ± 114 ng/ml) than in healthy PP (190 ± 74, p = 0.02) and healthy non-PP controls (136 ± 79, p

In the introduction to The Violence of the Lamb: Martyrs as Agents of Divine Judgment in the Book of Revelation, Paul Middleton recounts that at the 2008 annual meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, he was asked about the possible connections between John’s letters to the seven churches of Asia and modern ecclesiastical practice [...]

Since the publication of Julicher’s Die Gleichnisreden Jesu, parable research has largely focused on the legitimacy of allegory, classification of form, and matters of meaning and polyvalence. Still underdeveloped is an evaluation of the function of parables. This paper argues that one of the functions of Jesus’ parables was to invite hearers to turn from their previously defined notions of the kingdom of God and join him in his vision of the kingdom. The paper begins with an examination of the Markan Jesus’ citation of Isaiah 6:9–10 as a justification for speaking in parables and concludes that, while Israel was largely obdurate, the offer of repentance remained. Preaching repentance is one component of the work of a prophet, and an examination of Jesus’ vocation indicates that his parables function as prophetic witnesses. The paper concludes with an exploration of how the parables might serve as invitations to turn from self-defined notions of kingdom and join Jesus in his movement.

Increasing numbers of learners of English in mainstream classrooms have precipitated the need to better prepare teachers to instruct in culturally and linguistically responsive ways. This study shares survey results that demonstrate how a graduate program consisting of intentionally designed coursework and coaching led participating educators to report (1) feeling better prepared to work with English Learners in their classrooms; (2) increased knowledge of English Learners, including better understanding of language acquisition; and (3) increased knowledge of best practices for working with English Learners in classrooms.

Myocarditis is most recognized in patients with moderate to severe, recent‐onset heart failure. However, less typical presentations including myocardial infarction with normal coronary arteries and arrhythmias are important manifestations but less commonly recognized to be caused by myocarditis. Most cases of myocarditis can be self‐limiting without specific treatment; however, appropriate identification of risk during the diagnostic process of myocarditis and once a diagnosis is established is of primordial importance to identify patients in need for more specific follow‐up and management. We propose a flexible, multitiered approach to the diagnostic process, allowing for capturing of the spectrum of myocarditis at an early time‐point, individualized use of diagnostic resources through disease severity phenotyping, and providing structured follow‐up care once myocarditis is confirmed. Such diagnostic processes allow for identification of specific etiologies with potential therapeutic consequences or allows for the comprehension of disease chronicity by understanding genetic contributions or elements of persistent immune dysregulation and degree of cardiac damage. The article highlights the evolving field of immunophenotyping in myocarditis, generating a potential for the development of targeted therapeutic approaches. Currently long‐term follow‐up should be titrated to the refined risk assessments of patients with a diagnosis of myocarditis and includes arrhythmia monitoring and imaging when the results will likely impact management. Genetic testing should be considered in selected cases, and histologic diagnosis may be considered in nonresponders even at later stages.

Since the publication of Julicher's Die Gleichnisreden Jesu, parable research has largely focused on the legitimacy of allegory, classification of form, and matters of meaning and polyvalence. Still underdeveloped is an evaluation of the function of parables. This paper argues that one of the functions of Jesus' parables was to invite hearers to turn from their previously defined notions of the kingdom of God and join him in his vision of the kingdom. The paper begins with an examination of the Markan Jesus' citation of Isaiah 6:9–10 as a justification for speaking in parables and concludes that, while Israel was largely obdurate, the offer of repentance remained. Preaching repentance is one component of the work of a prophet, and an examination of Jesus' vocation indicates that his parables function as prophetic witnesses. The paper concludes with an exploration of how the parables might serve as invitations to turn from self-defined notions of kingdom and join Jesus in his movement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past decade there has been a growing interest in understanding sex and gender differences in myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), and the purpose of this review is to provide an update on this topic including epidemiology, pathogenesis and clinical presentation, diagnosis and management. Recently, many clinical studies have been conducted examining sex differences in myocarditis. Studies consistently report that myocarditis occurs more often in men than women with a sex ratio ranging from 1:2–4 female to male. Studies reveal that DCM also has a sex ratio of around 1:3 women to men and this is also true for familial/genetic forms of DCM. Animal models have demonstrated that DCM develops after myocarditis in susceptible mouse strains and evidence exists for this progress clinically as well. A consistent finding is that myocarditis occurs primarily in men under 50 years of age, but in women after age 50 or post-menopause. In contrast, DCM typically occurs after age 50, although the age that post-myocarditis DCM occurs has not been investigated. In a small study, more men with myocarditis presented with symptoms of chest pain while women presented with dyspnea. Men with myocarditis have been found to have higher levels of heart failure biomarkers soluble ST2, creatine kinase, myoglobin and T helper 17-associated cytokines while women develop a better regulatory immune response. Studies of the pathogenesis of disease have found that Toll-like receptor (TLR)2 and TLR4 signaling pathways play a central role in increasing inflammation during myocarditis and in promoting remodeling and fibrosis that leads to DCM, and all of these pathways are elevated in males. Management of myocarditis follows heart failure guidelines and there are currently no disease-specific therapies. Research on standard heart failure medications reveal important sex differences. Overall, many advances in our understanding of the effect of biologic sex on myocarditis and DCM have occurred over the past decade, but many gaps in our understanding remain. A better understanding of sex and gender effects are needed to develop disease-targeted and individualized medicine approaches in the future.

BackgroundAddressing behavioral health impacts of major disasters is a priority of increasing national attention, but there are limited examples of implementation strategies to guide new disaster responses. We provide a case study of an effort being applied in response to the 2016 Great Flood in Baton Rouge.MethodsResilient Baton Rouge was designed to support recovery after major flooding by building local capacity to implement an expanded model of depression collaborative care for adults, coupled with identifying and responding to local priorities and assets for recovery. For a descriptive, initial evaluation, we coupled analysis of documents and process notes with descriptive surveys of participants in initial training and orientation, including preliminary comparisons among licensed and non-licensed participants to identify training priorities.ResultsWe expanded local behavioral health service delivery capacity through subgrants to four agencies, provision of training tailored to licensed and non-licensed providers and development of advisory councils and partnerships with grassroots and government agencies. We also undertook initial efforts to enhance national collaboration around post-disaster resilience.ConclusionOur partnered processes and lessons learned may be applicable to other communities that aim to promote resilience, as well as planning for and responding to post-disaster behavioral health needs.