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This paper examines the housing market of metropolitan Chicago from 1970 to 2015, with particular attention on the three largest minority groups – African Americans, Hispanics and Asians. The Hispanic and Asian populations of the metropolitan area have grown rapidly, while the African-American population has actually declined since 2000. Metro Chicago has a much larger Hispanic population than is typical for major northern metro areas in the USA. Suburban growth coupled with population decline in the central city has produced large minority populations in the suburbs along with sharp declines in the traditional African-American areas of the central city. African-American areas of concentrated poverty remain. Sizable mostly white population growth has occurred in and near the downtown area as most of the nearby public housing has been demolished. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In predominately immigrant neighborhoods, the nuances of immigrant life in the ethnic enclave have important, yet underappreciated impact on community health. The complexities of immigrant experiences are essential to unpacking and addressing the impact of acculturative processes on observed racial, ethnic, and class-based health disparities in the United States. These insights because they are largely unexplored are best captured qualitatively through academic-community research partnership. We established the participatory mixed method Little Village participatory community health assessment (CHA) to explore community health in an ethnic enclave. In this paper, we share findings from our qualitative component exploring: how do Residents in a Predominately Immigrant Neighborhood Perceive Community Health Needs and Assets in Little Village. Three major themes emerged: rich, health promoting community assets inherent in the ethnic enclave; cumulative chronic stress impacting the mental health of families and intra-familial strain; and, work and occupation as important but underappreciated community health determinants in an immigrant neighborhood. These nuanced findings enhanced our community health assessment and contributed to the development of two additional tailored CHA methods, a community member-administered Community Health Survey, and an oral history component that provided deeper insight on the community’s health needs and assets, and a focus for action on work as a social determinant of health at the community level. Conducting trusted community-driven health assessments that are adaptive and flexible to capture authentic needs and assets are critical, given health consequences of the new anti-immigrant rhetoric and growing socio-political tensions and fear in immigrant neighborhoods in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beginning with Daniel H. Burnham’s iconic 1909 plan, the planning tradition in Chicago emphasized the enhancement of the downtown as the key to the city’s health. Harold Washington challenged the tradition during his one-term mayoralty, as evidenced in his administration’s 1984 comprehensive plan, calling for balanced growth and increased attention to neighborhood concerns. Following Washington’s abrupt death in office, subsequent mayors quickly reverted to the more conventional approach to planning that held sway in Chicago and many other large US cities in postindustrial America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since April 1955, the Illinois Geographical Society published the "new series" of the Bulletin of the Illinois Geographical Society, starting with Volume 1, Number 1. This volume featured Southern Illinois articles and maps, with such topics as climate, agriculture, water resources, and population to name a few. Looking at these old Bulletin maps was a little nostalgic for me. Even though I was not making maps in the 1950s, I did see similarities in the making of maps from the 1950- 1970s, and in my cartographic training in 1980-1990s. Being the editor Bulletin, 1990-2004, Illinois Geographer 2011 to present, and sometimes cartographer, you have an affinity for the published maps. So I decided to do a retrospect of the Illinois Geographical Society's maps, looking at variations in cartographic tools, skills, and styles used to make the maps, and how they have changed through time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientific study of the Illinois River began before a century of anthropogenic change, thus providing a unique perspective for describing river ecology restoration. In this issue, we explain how systematic monitoring revealed patterns in the restoration of the 2723-ha Emiquon Preserve on the Illinois River. The papers describe (1) how planktonic microorganisms, vegetation, fish, and waterbird communities responded rapidly to flooding of former shallow lakes and wetlands that had been drained and used for dryland agriculture for 83 years; (2) how variation of hydrologic conditions favors biotic community diversity and conditions for carbon sequestration; (3) how fish populations imposed a trophic cascade and affected diversity, yet may not help control some undesirable fish species; and (4) how simulation models are useful in planning, but that restoration practice and management decisions must adapt to present conditions, involve trade-offs, and are influenced by competing stakeholder interests. Unsurprisingly, water level management remains the most important factor in the restoration ecology of floodplains; however, the establishment of a river-floodplain connection should be managed to achieve a balance between establishing hydrology that mimics natural flood pulses while minimizing contemporary threats, including excessive nutrient and sediment loads and invasive species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Social & Cultural Geography is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Accurate flood prediction models and effective flood preparedness rely on thoroughly understanding rainfall–runoff dynamics. Similarly, effective rainfall–runoff models account for multiple interrelated parameters for robust runoff prediction. Process-based physical models offer valuable insights into hydrological processes, but their effectiveness can be hindered by data limitations or difficulties in acquiring specific data. Motivated by the frequent flooding events and limited data availability in the East Branch DuPage watershed, Illinois, this study addresses a critical gap in research by investigating effective discharge prediction methods. In this study, two significant machine learning (ML) models, artificial neural network (ANN) and support vector machine (SVM), were employed for discharge prediction. Historical data spanning from 2006 to 2021 were utilized to assess the performance of the models. Hyperparameter tuning was performed on the models to optimize their performance, and root mean square error (RMSE), Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE), percent bias (PBIAS), coefficient of determination (R2), and the normalized root mean squared error (NRMSE) were used as evaluation metrics. Although both machine learning models demonstrated strong performance, the analysis revealed that the ANN model emerged as the more reliable option for predicting discharge in the watershed. Crucially, the ANN model surpassed the SVM model's performance, achieving superior accuracy in predicting peak discharge events within the study area. Our findings have the potential to assist decision-makers and communities in implementing more dependable flood mitigation strategies, particularly in regions where hydrology data are limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the United States, many menstruators face barriers to period management, such as period poverty, or the lack of access to relevant knowledge and affordable menstrual products. Our current understanding of the social, emotional, and physical impacts of period poverty on students in post-secondary institutions is largely limited. Objectives: The purpose of this pilot study is to assess period poverty, period-related class disruption, and avoidance of menstrual hygiene management on campus among students and to identify recommendations for action at the University of Illinois Chicago and other urban universities. Design: An online cross-sectional study from February to May 2023. Methods: Enrolled students who were at least 18 years old completed an anonymous, self-administered online survey. Through descriptive statistics and chi-square tests in SAS version 9.4, we analyzed the sociodemographic, academic, and menstrual characteristics of those who had a period in the past 12 months. We also performed a thematic analysis of students' open-ended responses regarding their menstrual experiences on campus. Results: Of our sample (N = 106), 17.1% of students have faced period poverty, 55.8% experienced period-related class disruption, and 47.5% avoided changing their menstrual products on campus. The relationships between the three menstrual experiences were statistically significant. In the open responses, students reported that their personal experiences with menstruation were largely painful and disruptive. We identified the following themes: (1) inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities; (2) understocked, empty, or non-existent menstrual product dispensers; (3) a desire for additional resources for menstruation; and (4) the unpredictability of menstruation. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that students continue to face obstacles to menstruation management due to inadequate support related to menstrual infrastructure, products, and pain. We outline several recommendations for university/college institutions to prioritize a more inclusive and supportive educational environment for all students. Plain Language Summary: Students' experiences of menstrual periods while on an urban university campus In the United States, many girls, women, and other menstruators encounter challenges while managing their menstrual periods. Such barriers include period poverty, or the inability to afford resources and menstrual products such as tampons or pads. In this study, we explored how period poverty impacts college/university students. We shared an online survey with 106 students who were older than 18 years, had a period in the last 12 months, and attended the University of Illinois Chicago. We asked them about their menstrual, social, and academic experiences. We found that approximately one in six students could not afford menstrual products at some point in their lives, over half missed all or portions of class due to their period, and about one in two students avoided changing their menstrual products on campus. The relationships between these three menstrual experiences were statistically significant. Many students also reported that periods were largely painful, disruptive, and unpredictable and that their campus had few physical resources and more obstacles to managing menstruation. From our findings, we identified several steps that universities and colleges can take to prioritize a more inclusive and supportive educational environment for all students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct use of geothermal energy is the oldest and most versatile form of utilizing geothermal energy. In the last decade, this utilization has significantly increased, especially with the installation of geothermal (ground-source) heat pumps. Many current and inactive mine land sites across the U.S. could be redeveloped with clean energy technologies such as direct use geothermal, which would revitalize former mining communities, help with reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy. We present a multicriteria screening framework to evaluate various aspects of direct-use geothermal projects on mine lands. The criteria are divided into three categories: (1) technical potential, (2) demand and benefits, and (3) regulatory and permitting. We demonstrate the framework using publicly available data on a national scale (continental U.S.). Then, using an example of abandoned coal mines in Illinois and focusing on resource potential, we illustrate how this evaluation can be applied at the state or more local scales when a region's characteristics drive spatial variability estimates. The strength of this approach is the ability to combine seemingly disparate parameters and inputs from numerous sources. The framework is very flexible—additional criteria can be easily incorporated and weights modified if input data support them. Vice versa, the framework can also help identify additional data needed for evaluating those criteria. The multicriteria screening evaluation methodology provides a framework for identifying potential candidates for detailed site evaluation and characterization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Study Aim: Foot health and physical fitness in children are closely interconnected, playing a vital role in ensuring their overall well-being and performance. This study aims to determine the relationship between flat feet, body balance, and physical performance of junior high school students. Material and Methods: A total of 109 junior high school students from five schools in Surabaya, Indonesia, with ages ranging from 12 to 14 years, participated in this research. Data collection was through the wet footprint test, stork standing balance test, Bass test, Y-agility Test, and Illinois Change of Direction Test. The correlation of flat feet with static and dynamic balance and physical performance in the school environment was analyzed using the non-parametric Spearman Rank statistical test. Results: The results showed significant relationships between foot grade and static balance, dynamic balance, agility, and change of direction. These relationships were indicated by correlation coefficients that showed statistical significance at p < 0.05. Additionally, static and dynamic balance exhibited a negative correlation, while agility and change of direction showed a positive correlation. This suggests that higher foot grades corresponded to longer durations in static and dynamic balance tests and shorter completion times in agility and change of direction tasks. Conclusions: The findings of this study highlight the importance of investigating the relationship between flat feet, body balance, and physical performance among junior high school students. Understanding these correlations is crucial for optimizing the overall well-being and performance of adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence and spatial and temporal clustering of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in household cats within 63 counties in Illinois from October 2021 to May 2023. The analysis followed a stepwise approach. First, in a choropleth point map, we illustrated the distribution of county-level seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Next, spatial interpolation was used to predict the seroprevalence in counties without recorded data. Global and local clustering methods were used to identify the extent of clustering and the counties with high or low seroprevalence, respectively. Next, temporal, spatial, and space-time scan statistic was used to identify periods and counties with higher-than-expected seroprevalence. In the last step, to identify more distinct areas in counties with high seroprevalence, city-level analysis was conducted to identify temporal and space-time clusters. Among 1,715 samples tested by serological assays, 244 samples (14%) tested positive. Young cats had higher seropositivity than older cats, and the third quarter of the year had the highest odds of seropositivity. Three county-level space-time clusters with higher-than-expected seroprevalence were identified in the northeastern, central-east, and southwest regions of Illinois, occurring between June and October 2022. In the city-level analysis, 2 space-time clusters were identified in Chicago's downtown and the southwestern suburbs of Chicago between June and September 2022. Our results suggest that the high density of humans and cats in large cities such as Chicago, might play a role in the transmission and clustering of SARS-CoV-2. Our study provides an in-depth analysis of SARS-CoV-2 epidemiology in Illinois household cats, which will aid in COVID-19 control and prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Maternal mental health problems, such as perinatal depression, are a major public health issue. In the U.S., several states have policies related to mental health during pregnancy and postpartum. The extent of these laws at the state level needs to be further explored and described. Methods: We systematically searched the Illinois General Assembly to determine all existing legislation on the topic of perinatal mental health. Results: This search uncovered two major Acts that 1) require universal perinatal depression screening and 2) raise awareness of the symptoms and treatment options related to maternal mental health. We also discovered provisions in the law that allow for untreated or undiagnosed postpartum depression or psychosis to be considered as a mitigating factor for women who commit forcible felonies. Discussion: Through legislation, states can lead change at the systems-level to improve perinatal mental health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research examines the effects of tax increment financing (TIF) on spatial inequality from 1990 to 2014 in Cook County, Illinois. The author explores the effects of TIF on real income and income distribution and examines whether the effects lead to a reduction in spatial inequality. To address the question of spatial inequality, dependent variables are constructed that assess the probability of TIF increasing upward mobility on the real income ladder and catching up with other areas. The results show beneficial distributional effects, but the effects are much attenuated when examining changes in the probability of moving up in the rankings, indicating that the effects of TIF are limited in reducing spatial inequality in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the 1990s, due to a surge in nonmarital births and the related increase in child support assistance, Congress passed laws making federal aid to states contingent on accessible and standardized paternity establishment processes. This led to in-hospital voluntary paternity acknowledgments (VAPs), which made establishing paternity for child support easier. Federal funding required strict VAP processes, including a sixty-day rescission period and limited grounds for post-rescission challenges. Voluntary parentage acknowledgments have since expanded to include non-genetic parents, like spouses and intended parents through assisted reproduction. Illinois' Parentage Act of 2015 regulates these acknowledgments. However, the Illinois Appellate Court case, Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services ex rel. Hull v. Robinson, revealed complexities with VAPs, particularly when a non-genetic father signed an Iowa VAP, leading to a child support reimbursement challenge from the actual genetic father in Illinois. This Article critiques Illinois laws on voluntary paternity acknowledgments, proposing critical reforms. It starts with the Robinson case, exploring both explicit and implicit VAP issues. It then delves into Illinois' broader parentage acknowledgment framework, considering acknowledgments for children born from consensual sex and from nonsurrogacy and surrogacy assisted reproduction. The Article extends its analysis to the 2000 and 2017 Uniform Parentage Acts (UPAs) and other states' laws, providing a context for Illinois lawmakers. The Article posits reforms of Illinois laws on both paternity and maternity acknowledgments (i.e., those with relevant genetic ties) and on other parentage acknowledgments (i.e., those with no genetic ties), though recognizing a need for differentiating between the two types of acknowledgments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aims to explore how health science faculty publication patterns at a large public research university have changed over time and examine how productivity relates to their information-seeking behavior and perception of the academic library. Methods: Two datasets were utilized: one consisted of publication records of health sciences faculty spanning a 15-year period, while the other was from a faculty survey exploring faculty's perception of and satisfaction with library resources and services related to their research. Results: Health sciences faculty publication patterns have changed over time, characterized by greater productivity, collaboration, and use of literature in their publications. Faculty's literature use correlates with productivity, as evidenced by both datasets. The survey revealed that faculty with more publications tend to rely more on online journals and Interlibrary Loan (ILL). Similarly, the publication data indicated that less productive faculty tended to use fewer references in their publications. Discussion: The publication data and survey results offer valuable insights into the health sciences faculty's informationseeking behavior and productivity. Online access to information has been effective in facilitating use of information, as indicated by the greater incorporation of references in publications. Conclusion: The study highlights the changing publication patterns and productivity of health sciences faculty, as well as the role academic libraries play in supporting their research and publishing activities. Although multiple variables influence faculty access to and use of information, faculty attitudes towards the library and use of the library are related to faculty research and productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Rural & Community Development is the property of Brandon University, Rural Development Institute and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose: Developmental stuttering is a complex and multifaceted neurodevelopmental disorder that may cause pervasive negative consequences for adults who stutter (AWS). Historically, intervention for AWS has primarily addressed speech fluency, with less focus on the covert psychosocial aspects of the disorder. The purpose of this article is to report on a feasibility trial evaluating a novel integrated intervention that combines traditional stuttering management techniques with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for AWS. Method: Twenty-nine AWS participated in the feasibility trial. All participants successfully completed a combined fluency and ACT intervention, titled the fluency and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Stuttering (fACTS) Program. As this was a feasibility study, no control group was included. Intervention was administered by two certified practicing speech-language pathologists, over eight 60- to 90-min sessions. Results: Generalized linear mixed modeling was used to determine change from pre- to post-intervention and follow-up. Significant pre- and post-intervention improvements in self-efficacy, psychosocial functioning, and psychological flexibility were observed, along with significant reductions in observable stuttering behaviors (i.e., stuttered speech frequency). Intervention gains for all variables of interest were maintained 3 and 6 months post-intervention. Conclusions: The fACTS Program was created to be a holistic and flexible intervention to promote self-efficacy beliefs and address stuttering-related psychosocial impacts and speech fluency goals of AWS. Preliminary results indicated positive improvement in all psychosocial outcomes (i.e., self-efficacy, psychosocial impact, and psychological flexibility) and observable speech fluency following completion of the program. Future clinical trials of the fACTS Program with an included control group will further investigate the mechanisms of change for the positive effects observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The State of Illinois is examining prospects to increase the development of in-state renewable energy resources on public lands. In response, this research develops a scalable decision-support tool for identifying suitable areas for solar energy generation in the state. This paper provides guidance for state agency-driven solar development by evaluating the suitability of potential generation areas in terms of environmental impact, socioeconomic costs, and energy productivity, and providing a forum for critical decision-making. More specifically, geospatial technologies are combined with a suitability analysis to reveal the potential for solar energy generation on public lands. This study demonstrates the usefulness of the resulting information for supporting both regional and local decision-making as a Planning Support System (PSS). Our analysis suggests that the large-scale analysis using fine resolution data is useful for comparison and site-specific decision making - with site verification protocols in terms of physical implementation. We find that planning decisions for solar development should use a fine-grained suitability approach at a large scale and a feasibility analysis at a specific scale. We present our findings in statewide application along with a scalable PSS tool to optimize and support solar decision-making process and democratize the information for engaging a broader audience. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents a new mathematical model of TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) link functioning in a heterogeneous (wired/wireless) channel. It represents a controllable, partially observable stochastic dynamic system. The system state describes the status of the modeled TCP link and expresses it via an unobservable controllable MJP (Markov jump process) with finite-state space. Observations are formed by low-frequency counting processes of packet losses and timeouts and a high-frequency compound Poisson process of packet acknowledgments. The information transmission through the TCP-equipped channel is considered a stochastic control problem with incomplete information. The main idea to solve it is to impose the separation principle on the problem. The paper proposes a mathematical framework and algorithmic support to implement the solution. It includes a solution to the stochastic control problem with complete information, a diffusion approximation of the high-frequency observations, a solution to the MJP state filtering problem given the observations with multiplicative noises, and a numerical scheme of the filtering algorithm. The paper also contains the results of a comparative study of the proposed state-based congestion control algorithm with the contemporary TCP versions: Illinois, CUBIC, Compound, and BBR (Bottleneck Bandwidth and RTT). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, our focus is on the wetlands of Champaign County with extension into neighboring Piatt and Macon counties. We want to describe exactly how the early settlers managed to acquire and develop their lands, some of them realizing that once the land was drained, the wetlands were the most fertile in the county. Today these former wetlands demand the highest prices. The drainage actively began in the 1850s and has never stopped. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technology acceptance has been studied extensively within the IS discipline. Few, if any, have studied end users’ acceptance of newly implemented technologies within organisational contexts before end users start using the technology. Thus, by integrating variables from multiple relevant literature, this research attempts to answer this research question: will the introduction of a richer model for technology acceptance in a mandatory adoption environment, specifically in the pre-implementation phase, allow us to capture and account for the complexities of organisational technology implementations? The research model was tested in an organisational setting where a new content management system was being implemented. A total of 148 employees participated in this survey and partial least squares method was used to analyse the data to test the model. Implementation climate, valence, attitude, and perceived ease of use positively influence goal commitment to technology acceptance in a mandatory environment, and the model has displayed relatively large explanatory and predictive power. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed in the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Two new directors were each charged by their institutions to catalyze transformational change in their libraries and to develop dynamic and evolving information ecosystems ready for the information challenges of the future. The directors approached this transformational change using a strategic, forwardlooking approach. Results: This paper presents examples of actions that served as catalysts for change at the two libraries using Kotter's Eight Steps of Change as a framework. Small and large changes are critical for successfully transforming library services, resources, and personnel. Conclusions: Libraries are faced with incredible pressure to adapt to meet emerging and intensifying information needs on today's academic medical campuses. These pressures offer an opportunity for libraries to accelerate their evolution at the micro and macro levels. This commentary reports the expansion of new services and areas of support, enhancement of professional visibility of the libraries on their campuses, and overall, a more positive and productive environment at the respective institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses various reports within the issue on topics including maternal and child health in sub-Saharan Africa; utilisation of antenatal health-care resources; and reproductive health indicators.

In this article, we execute a thoughtful study for the paper of Bagloee and Ceder that was published in Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, 45 (10), 1787-1804, (2011). Several suspicious derivations will be discussed to help ordinary researchers to accept this imperative paper of Bagloee and Ceder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the Naperville movement which was started by Civil Rights activist Martin Luther King Jr's campaign to improve housing for the poor residents of the Naperville suburb in Chicago, Illinois, focusing on African Americans. Topics discussed include initiatives to improve slum housing standing alongside efforts to remove racial bias in the housing market.

Amid movements that recognize undergraduate students as knowledge creators, transformative work is being done at the intersection of information literacy and scholarly communication. Absent from the literature so far is research related to students' perception and understanding of scholarly communication. This paper reports a mixed methods study at two major research universities in the United States, where undergraduate student researchers were surveyed and interviewed about their scholarly communication practices and perceptions. This work informs development of programming at the intersection of scholarly communication and information literacy in general, and for those involved with undergraduate research experiences in particular. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arts education advocates sometimes point to extrinsic benefits of arts learning, including Social Emotional Learning (SEL). This study considers if and how the National Core Arts Standards (NCAS) in dance, media arts, music, theater, and visual art may align with SEL standards adopted by the state of Illinois, upon which other SEL standards have been modeled. A team of arts education experts coded 15,500 intersections of arts standards & SEL goals. They found a great deal of indirect alignment between the NCAS and SEL objectives, but direct alignment was rare. As the types and degrees of alignment varied by discipline, broad discussions of "arts education" that assume similar types of SEL happens in similar ways in all arts disciplines are problematic. Given the generally indirect alignment of the NCAS and SEL goals, the authors recommend that educators who wish to pursue both arts learning and SEL goals engage in conscious planning to ensure both types of learning occur. From a theoretical, standards-based perspective it seems unlikely that SEL will automatically take place in arts learning scenarios without deliberate planning. While recognizing the potential for deliberately structured lessons to promote both arts learning and SEL, the authors caution against advocating for arts education programs primarily on the basis of presumed extrinsic benefits such as SEL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presenters at the State of the States Roundtable session at the 2014 National Education Finance Conference in Louisville were invited to submit their papers for publication. These papers address the following topics: (1) State issues affecting P-12 and/or higher education funding; (2) Funding priorities/trends for P-12 and/or higher education; (3) Changes to funding formula for P-12 and/or higher education; and (4) Impact on school district or higher education budgets. States represented in this section include Alabama (Brenda Mendiola and Philip Westbrook), Arkansas (Steve Bounds), Colorado (Spencer C. Weiler and Gabriel R. Serna), Florida (Brittany Larkin, Jasmine Ulmer, and R. Craig Wood), Illinois (Joel R. Malin and Rene J. Noppe, Jr.), Indiana (Matthew R. Della Sala and Marilyn A. Hirth), Kentucky (Tyrone Bynoe), Nebraska (Barbara Y. LaCost), New Jersey (Luke J. Stedrak), New York (Osnat Zaken), North Carolina (Lisa G. Driscoll and Jim R. Watson), Ohio (Randall S. Vesely), South Carolina (Matthew R. Della Sala and Robert C. Knoeppel), Tennessee (Betty Cox), Texas (Ken Helvey and Dennis Womack), Virginia (William Owings, Leslie S. Kaplan, and Richard G. Salmon), and Wisconsin (Faith E. Crampton). (Individual state sections contain references.)

This study explores the impact of state-level guaranteed tuition laws on state general appropriations for higher education. Using the "Truth-in-Tuition" law that was implemented in Illinois in 2004 as the treatment condition, this study analyzes data from 2000-2012. To test the direction and size of the effect on state general appropriations, this work uses a quasi-experimental, difference-in-difference methodology with a national panel dataset of public four-year institutions. Institutions in Illinois experienced significant decreases in state appropriations following the introduction of the guaranteed tuition law compared to the secular trend. In the baseline model presented in this paper, the magnitude of the cut to higher education institutions is shown to be $29.6 million, or approximately 20%, compared to the 2004 mean, on average, as compared to institutions that were not subject to guaranteed tuition laws. Both the direction and the magnitude of the finding are robust to alternative specifications including models that compare institutions with similar governance structures, Carnegie classifications, and in models that consider the impact over time. The results of the study have implications for both state policymakers and university leaders. While there is clearly a value to the predictability offered by guaranteed tuition (the increasing number of institutions that voluntarily offer these programs is evidence of the increasing demand for predictability in tuition pricing), this study highlights that these programs may have unintended consequences. Coupled with the evidence that state level guaranteed tuition laws drive tuition increases, the findings from this study provide more evidence that these laws may not be beneficial to all stakeholders. The mounting evidence seems to suggest that these laws may not be advisable public policy and it is hoped that this study will shape policy discussions in states that have implemented (i.e., Illinois, Oklahoma, Texas) or are currently considering these policies. [This paper was presented at the 2014 National Education Finance Conference in Louisville, KY, and the 2014 American Educational Research Association Annual Conference in Philadelphia, PA.]

Measurement of planktonic chlorophyll‐a—a proxy for algal biomass—in rivers may represent local production or algae transported from upstream, confounding understanding of algal bloom development in flowing waters. We modeled 3 years of chlorophyll‐a transport through a 394‐km portion of the Illinois River and found that although algal biomass is longitudinally widespread, most net production occurs at river control points in the upper reaches (up to 3.7 Mg chlorophyll‐a y−1 km−1). Up to 69% of the algal biomass in the upper river was a result of within‐reach production, with the remainder recruited from headwaters and tributaries. High chlorophyll‐a measured farther downstream was largely because of transport from source‐area control points, with substantial net losses of algal biomass occurring in the lower river. Modeling the often‐overlooked river transport component is necessary to characterize where, when, and why planktonic algae grow and predict how far and fast they move downstream. Plain Language Summary: Planktonic algae in rivers may accumulate during periods of high productivity stimulated by favorable light, temperature, nutrient, and flow conditions, which can disrupt ecological processes and affect human uses including recreation and drinking water supply. Planktonic algae observed in rivers may occur because of local growth or transport from upstream source areas. Therefore, considering both local and upstream conditions may improve early warnings of potentially harmful blooms. Along a 394‐km stretch of the Illinois River, we found that most of the algae grew in the upper reaches and was then transported to downstream reaches, contributing to potential downstream harms such as excessive turbidity, organic carbon, biological oxygen demand, and algal toxins. We demonstrate how the often‐overlooked river transport component can be quantified to better identify where, when, and why algae grow in river networks. Key Points: Planktonic algal biomass is pervasive in the Illinois River, yet production is favored at certain locations and timesMost planktonic algal biomass was produced in upper‐reach control points that supplied downstream areasTransport analysis using local and upstream data improves understanding of river algal blooms [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Police frequently encounter people with opioid use disorder (OUD), having a profound effect on their risk environment and health outcomes. Officers retain significant discretionary authority in their response to these encounters. To explore the factors that underlie these decisions, we surveyed a sample of Illinois police officers. We administered an online survey to Illinois police departments using a random sampling strategy, stratified by agency size and the rurality of their service areas. Our final sample was 248 police officers from 27 departments. We surveyed officers' beliefs about (1) influences and control over their decision making; (2) the approval of other actors in making referrals to treatment for addiction, and (3) the potential impacts of medication-assisted treatment (MAT). We analyzed the survey data using descriptive statistics and regression analyses. Most officers were highly influenced by the expectations of their supervisors when responding to subjects who appeared to have an OUD, and about half would take direction from addiction treatment providers. Police in urban departments perceived greater support for MAT and were more likely to believe MAT could reduce the need for future arrests. Our findings suggest ways police officers can be influenced to make discretionary decisions that improve the health outcomes of their encounters with people with OUD: (1) Supervisors should serve as champions to promote referrals to treatment for substance use disorders; (2) collaboration between law enforcement and community addiction treatment providers should be strengthened, and (3) MAT should be supported and expanded in rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasive species decimate entire ecosystems, outcompeting native organisms for resources. Four introduced carp species have been identified as invasive in the Great Lakes region with bighead and silver carp displaying the greatest potential for invasion of the Great Lakes. Currently, these two species have self-sustaining populations in the Mississippi River, and the edges of their ranges are near Lake Michigan and Lake Erie. Here we address the prolific spreading ability of carps, the potential impacts of a carp invasion in the Great Lakes and the effects they might have in the larger Great Lakes region. Through a systematic literature review, we found: 1) carp population locations present in the region and how these populations have shifted over time; 2) how carp management options in Illinois waterways have evolved over time; and 3) invasive carp have a large economic impact on the local Great Lakes region. Invasive carp populations continue to increase and negatively impact aquatic ecosystems. Various management methods, such as eDNA, acoustic deterrence, and others, have been effective in invasive carp management and show promise in preventing expansion. However, if not effectively managed, the economic impact of invasive carp will be substantial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a court case in which the states of Nevada, Illinois and Virginia appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit regarding the failure of the Archivist to certify and publish the Equal Rights Amendment as the 28th Amendment even after the deadlines for the amending requirement expired. It explores the dismissal of the case by the U.S. District Court, and issues concerning Article V's amendment procedures raised by this case.

Perennial-based buffer strips have been promoted with the potential to improve ecosystem services from riparian areas while producing biomass as livestock feed or as a bioenergy feedstock. Both biomass production and nutrient removal of buffer strips are substantially influenced by the vegetation types for the multipurpose perennial buffers. In this 2016–2019 study in Western Illinois, two perennial cropping systems, including forage crops composed of cool-season grass mixtures (forage system) and bioenergy crops made up of warm-season grass mixtures (bioenergy system), were used to establish buffer strips for assessing biomass production, feedstock quality, nutrient removals, and buffer longevity. Treatments for this study reflecting agronomic practices included 1) two harvests occurring in summer (at anthesis) and fall (after complete senescence) and 2) one harvest in fall for forage system (2- vs. 1-cut forage), and 3) one fall harvest for bioenergy system (1-cut bioenergy). Successively harvesting without any fertilizer input resulted in a yield decline in forage biomass over three years by approximately 30 % (6.3 to 4.4 DM Mg ha-1 with the rate of 1.0 Mg ha-1 yr-1) in the 2-cut forage and by 35 % (4.9 to 3.2 DM Mg ha-1 with the rate of 0.9 Mg ha-1 yr-1) in the 1-cut forage systems. The feed quality also decreased over the years by showing declined rates of 12.9 (crucial protein), 0.9 (calcium), 0.7 (copper), and 1.3 (zinc) g kg-1 DM yr-1. Empirical models predicted enteric CH4 emissions from cattle ranged from 225.7 to 242.6 g cow-1 d-1 based on the feed nutritive values. In contrast, bioenergy biomass yield increased by 27 % from 4.9 to 6.7 DM Mg ha-1 with consistent quality (cellulose ~ 397.9 g kg-1; hemicellulose ~ 299.4 g kg-1), corresponding to the increased total theoretical ethanol yield from 1.8×103 to 2.4×103 L ha-1 (~33 % increase). Annual nutrient removals of N, P, K, Ca, and Mg were significantly higher in the forage systems (e.g., 2-cut: 52.6~106.9 kg-N ha-1; 1-cut: 44.5~84.1 kg-N ha-1) than those in the bioenergy system (e.g., 25.9~34.4 kg-N ha-1); however, the removal rate declined rapidly over three years (e.g., ~49 % reduction) as the annual biomass yield declined in the forage systems. This on-farm field study demonstrated the potential of the perennial crop used as buffer strip options for biomass production and buffer sustainability at the edge of the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intergenerational transmission processes have long been of interest to demographers, but prior research on the intergenerational transmission of criminal justice contact is relatively sparse and limited by its lack of attention to the correlated "family troubles" and familial incarceration that predate criminal justice contact. In this article, we provide a test of the intergenerational transmission of criminal justice contact after adjusting extensively for these factors that predate such contact by linking longitudinal data from the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods with official arrest histories from 1995 to 2020. The results provide support for three conclusions. First, parental criminal justice contact is associated with a shorter time to first arrest and a larger number of arrests even after rigorously accounting for selection. Second, robustness checks demonstrate that neither the magnitude nor the significance of the findings is sensitive to model choices. Third, associations are strongest among White individuals and inconsistently significant for African American and Hispanic individuals. Despite large recent crime declines, the results indicate that parental criminal justice contact elevates the criminal justice contact of the adult children of the prison boom, independent of the often-overlooked troubles that predate criminal justice contact, and that these associations are strongest among the White population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aspergillus fungi are ubiquitous inhabitants of colonies of the western honey bee (Apis mellifera), where they interact with bees in associations ranging from parasitism to possible mutualism. Aspergillus Flavi fungi are frequently found in bee bread (pollen processed for longterm storage) and are thought to contribute to food preparation, processing, preservation, and digestion. Conditions in the hive are challenging for fungi due, in part, to xeric and acidic properties of bee bread and the omnipresence of propolis, an antimicrobial product manufactured by bees from plant resins. We used quantitative and qualitative assays to determine whether A. flavus isolated from bee bread demonstrates tolerance for hive environmental conditions in terms of temperature, pH, osmotic pressure, and propolis exposure. Comparisons made use of three strains of A. flavus: a fungal biocontrol product not known from beehives (AF36), a strain isolated from bee bread (AFBB) in hives from central Illinois, and a pathogenic strain from a honey bee colony displaying symptoms of stonebrood (AFPA). Strain AFBB displayed higher tolerance of acidic conditions, low matric potential (simulating xeric substrate), and propolis exposure than did other strains. A genomic comparison between this new strain and the reference NRRL‐3357 showed that AFBB, like AF36, might be blocked from carrying out aflatoxin biosynthesis. Sequence comparisons also revealed several missense variants in genes that encode proteins regulating osmotolerance and osmotic pressure in Aspergillus spp., including SakA, SskB, GfdA, and TcsB/Sln1. Collectively, results of our laboratory assays and genetic analyses are consistent with the suggestion that the strain isolated from bee bread is adapted to the bee bread environment and may have persisted due to a coevolutionary relationship between Aspergillus and A. mellifera. This finding bolsters recent concerns about the effects of fungicide use near bee colonies and broadens the ecological importance of highly adaptable fungal strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the US, end-of-life health care (EOLHC) is often intensive and invasive, and at times may involve care that is inconsistent with patient values. US Muslims may not receive appropriate religious support, experience uncertainty around end-of-life decision-making, and under-utilize palliative and hospice care. As technological advancements and treatment options rise in EOLHC, Muslim American patients and their families need to understand more about the treatment options that are consistent with their beliefs. The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of a pilot mosque-based educational workshop focused on increasing Muslim Americans' religious bioethics knowledge about end-of-life healthcare. Intervention sites were four mosques with racially and ethnically diverse members, two in the Chicago metropolitan area and two in the Washington, D.C. area. Eligible participants were self-reported Muslims, aged 18 years or older, who were proficient in English. The intervention included a pre and post-test survey and a workshop focused on the Islamic bioethical perspectives on EOLHC. Knowledge was measured with six true-false questions. Baseline and post-intervention scores were analyzed by McNemar's test and bivariate correlation. Overall, the analysis showed a significant improvement in post-intervention participant knowledge. There was increased knowledge of Islamic bioethical views on the moral status of seeking healthcare, brain death controversies, and religious perspectives on withholding or withdrawing life support near the end of life. Our pilot intervention successfully increased participant knowledge and underscores the need to improve the Muslim community's knowledge about the bioethical dimensions of EOLHC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective This article aims to assess statewide uptake of HIV repeat testing in the first 2 years after the implementation of an amendment to the Illinois Perinatal HIV Prevention Act (IPHPA) mandating universal repeat HIV testing in the third trimester. Study Design This is a retrospective, population-based study of all birthing individuals in Illinois (2018–2019). Data were collected using the state-mandated closed system of perinatal HIV test reporting. We evaluated the incidence of mother–infant pairs with negative early tests and repeat third-trimester tests (RTTTs) performed in adherence with the law, as well as the timing of the performance of the RTTTs (outpatient vs. inpatient). Chi-square tests of trend by quarter were performed to ascertain sustainability. Results Of 138,805 individuals delivered in 2018, 80.6% presented with early test and RTTTs. In 2018, outpatient RTTTs improved from 71.8% (quarter 1) to 85.1% (quarter 4; p < 0.001). In 2018, the proportion of mother–infant dyads who received testing that was adherent to the IPHPA Amendment was 92.1, 95.5, 96.7, and 96.4% in quarters 1 through 4, respectively (p < 0.001). In 2019, outpatient RTTTs performance remained high (87.4%) and stable (p = 0.06). In 2019, 99.9% of mother–infant dyads had testing adherent to the mandate in quarters 1 through 4 (p = 0.39). Of individuals who presented without RTTTs, 93.5% (2018) and 98.8% (2019) underwent inpatient testing before delivery. Conclusion Implementation of RTTTs in Illinois was rapid, successful, and sustained in its first 2 years. Public health methodologies from Illinois may benefit other states implementing RTTT programs. Key Points In 2018, Illinois enacted statewide RTTT for HIV among all parturients. In 2019, over 99% of mother–infant dyads had documentation of both early and repeat HIV testing before hospital discharge. Implementation of repeat third-trimester HIV testing in Illinois was rapid, successful, and sustained in its first 2 years. Public health methodologies from Illinois may benefit other states implementing similar programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 mortality rates increase rapidly with age, are higher among men than women, and vary across racial/ethnic groups, but this is also true for other natural causes of death. Prior research on COVID-19 mortality rates and racial/ethnic disparities in those rates has not considered to what extent disparities reflect COVID-19-specific factors, versus preexisting health differences. This study examines both questions. We study the COVID-19-related increase in mortality risk and racial/ethnic disparities in COVID-19 mortality, and how both vary with age, gender, and time period. We use a novel measure validated in prior work, the COVID Excess Mortality Percentage (CEMP), defined as the COVID-19 mortality rate (Covid-MR), divided by the non-COVID natural mortality rate during the same time period (non-Covid NMR), converted to a percentage. The CEMP denominator uses Non-COVID NMR to adjust COVID-19 mortality risk for underlying population health. The CEMP measure generates insights which differ from those using two common measures–the COVID-MR and the all-cause excess mortality rate. By studying both CEMP and COVID-MRMR, we can separate the effects of background health from Covid-specific factors affecting COVID-19 mortality. We study how CEMP and COVID-MR vary by age, gender, race/ethnicity, and time period, using data on all adult decedents from natural causes in Indiana and Wisconsin over April 2020-June 2022 and Illinois over April 2020-December 2021. CEMP levels for racial and ethnic minority groups can be very high relative to White levels, especially for Hispanics in 2020 and the first-half of 2021. For example, during 2020, CEMP for Hispanics aged 18–59 was 68.9% versus 7.2% for non-Hispanic Whites; a ratio of 9.57:1. CEMP disparities are substantial but less extreme for other demographic groups. Disparities were generally lower after age 60 and declined over our sample period. Differences in socio-economic status and education explain only a small part of these disparities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]