Northeastern Illinois University

Background: To mitigate stigma, many universities recently changed the name of their “Abnormal Psychology” course to “Psychopathology.” Objective: In a preregistered study, we investigated whether “Psychopathology” is less stigmatizing than “Abnormal.” Method: Undergraduate students completed an implicit task (making initial preferences for hypothetical professors, then judging the courses those professors teach) and an explicit task (answering direct queries, e.g., “Which term feels more negative to you?”). Results: Students judged that courses named “Psychopathology” and “Abnormal Psychology” were taught by less-positive and less-preferred professors, and “Psychology of Mental Health” was taught by more-positive and more-preferred professors. Students reported that “Psychopathology” and “Abnormal” feel more negative and less positive than “Mental Health,” and “Psychopathology” and “Abnormal” seem to not differ in negativity or positivity. “Psychopathology” also reminds students more of a psychopath, “deviant,” and “psycho,” than does “Mental Health.” Importantly, students strongly prefer that other people use “Mental Health” rather than “Psychopathology” or “Abnormal” to describe them and their conditions. Conclusion: We conclude that “Psychopathology” is roughly equivalent to “Abnormal,” and both terms are more stigmatizing than “Mental Health.” Therefore, we suggest that the course name “Psychology of Mental Health” rather than “Abnormal Psychology” and “Psychopathology” might reduce stigma.

This manuscript explores Latine bilingual counselor educators’ experiences in academia through Nuestros Encuentros, a co‐created counterspace. Utilizing Healing Justice and decolonial frameworks, the authors detail their process of fostering authentic dialogue, cultural reconnection, and collective healing. Through creative practices and critical reflection, they confront internalized oppression and systemic barriers. Recommendations are provided for counselor educators to create similar supportive communities, contributing to the decolonization of higher education and the counseling profession. Additionally, drawing from their experiences in these encuentros , the authors offer clinical insights into the use of creative practices when working with Latine clients who have been exposed to traumatic and oppressive experiences.

This chapter explores the transformative role of education in fostering sustainable development through cross-national virtual exchange programs between university students in the U.S. and sub-Saharan Africa. Following the United Nations Decade on Education for Sustainable Development (2005–2014) and the subsequent Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Target 4.7, which emphasizes education for sustainable lifestyles and global citizenship, the program aimed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to address pressing environmental challenges (United Nations 2021). The initiative involved collaboration with community groups to explore local solutions to global issues such as climate change, human displacement, and environmental health crises. Students engaged in service learning, applying their academic knowledge to real-world contexts while developing critical skills in data collection, analysis, and advocacy. The program not only enhanced student understanding of community needs but also fostered reciprocal relationships with local stakeholders, thereby empowering both students and community members. Through a multidisciplinary approach, participants learned to navigate the complexities of sustainability by exploring the intersection of local cultures and global challenges. Ultimately, the initiative aimed to create a multigenerational and multisectoral community of sustainability advocates, facilitating meaningful exchanges that highlighted the emotional and cultural dimensions of environmental issues. The chapter concludes that such educational experiences are vital for nurturing future leaders equipped to promote sustainable development and social justice, emphasizing the need for continued innovation in educational practices to address global crises.

Background There is substantial research evidence to suggest that supported employment is an evidence-based mental health and employment intervention for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and persons with severe mental illness (SMI). The effectiveness of supported employment may also extend to people recovering from addiction because alcohol and substance use disorder is considered a mental disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR). However, there is a paucity of research validating the effectiveness of supported employment for individuals recovering from addiction. Objective This study examined the effect of supported employment on the employment outcomes of individuals recovering from addiction in the state vocational rehabilitation system. Method We conducted a case-control study using propensity score matching to create a treatment group (individuals recovering from addiction who received supported employment) and a control group (individuals recovering from addiction who did not receive supported employment), using data extracted from the Rehabilitation Services Administration Case Service Report database. Chi-square tests and t-tests were computed to determine if there were any differences between the treatment and control groups on employment outcomes and quality of employment. Results Individuals recovering from addiction in the treatment group had significantly higher employment rates than those in the control group. Conclusion Supported employment is an effective employment intervention for individuals recovering from addiction receiving services from the state vocational rehabilitation system.

This chapter focuses on the contemporary US prestige television shows that feature drug trafficking Better Call Saul (2015–2022) and Narcos Mexico (2018–2021). It argues that while the portrayal of “tragic Latino” characters may undermine the Latino Threat Narrative to an extent, the tragic elements of the arcs of characters, understood as the inability to survive the movement through transnational patriarchies, still figuratively represent the incapacity of the Anglo-American US imaginary to accept or incorporate Latinidad, to imagine an end to the War on Drugs, or to conceive of an alternative economic order to that of capitalism.

Purpose Despite the well‐established link between vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV) and a decreased risk of cancer, HPV vaccine uptake in rural communities is low. Evidence‐based interventions (EBIs) to promote HPV vaccination exist but are not universally implemented in rural settings due to various challenges. To understand the support needed by rural clinics in implementing EBIs, the University of Iowa partnered with the American Cancer Society (ACS) to evaluate an ACS HPV Vaccinating Adolescents against Cancers Quality Improvement Learning Collaborative that was delivered to six clinics in two rural health systems. The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the learning collaborative approach for helping rural clinics implement EBIs aimed at increasing HPV vaccine uptake. Methods Semistructured interviews were conducted with clinic staff at six time points throughout the 2‐year intervention. Interviews were conducted over the phone and were recorded and transcribed. Members of the research team coded the interviews using codebooks informed by the interview guides. The analysis compared the health systems and identified the changes they made in response to assistance provided by the collaborative. Results Clinic staff implemented the following EBIs: utilizing the immunization registry, strong provider recommendation, and provider education. Implementation of scheduling next dose fluctuated during the intervention. Differences were noted in the two health systems’ implementation using electronic health records for patient and provider reminders. Conclusion Small, rural clinics can implement effective EBIs, given proper support. This is important as such EBIs can increase HPV vaccination rates and help prevent HPV‐associated cancers.

The housing markets in districts across the United Kingdom (UK) co-move over time. We use the dynamic factor model to decompose the co-movement in house prices of the smallest possible geographical unit into national, regional, and idiosyncratic factors. Using the Bayesian time-varying parameter VAR (TVP-VAR) model, we study the dynamic impact of uncertainty shocks on synchronization in housing markets. We find that the estimated national factor accurately tracks the overall housing market cycles in the UK and explains nearly all the variations in East, South–East, and South–West districts. Furthermore, the results from TVP-VAR indicate that the estimated response of the national factor to uncertainty shocks is negative. However, the magnitude of the effect is more pronounced and persists longer in the case of housing price uncertainty shocks compared to overall economic uncertainty. Overall, our results suggest that uncertainty about house prices is a primary driver of the national factor.

This study was developed in response to the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) position statement elevating the use of nonfiction literature in the K‐12 curriculum. Using an intersectional, critical multicultural lens, we examined award‐winning picturebook biographies for their potential to invite examination of the concept of power following two guiding questions: “how do subjects acquire power?” and “how do subjects use their power?” The findings show that most subjects of biographies are depicted as having intrinsic power that comes from within and is used to pursue a personal dream. A smaller number of books depict subjects as having collective power, acquired within the contexts of their communities and subsequently using their power to uplift their communities. The teaching implications include suggestions for unpacking abstract ideas about power through picturebook biographies in tangible ways with elementary grade readers.

Blockchain technology has heralded a new era in digital innovation, revolutionizing our approach to designing and building distributed applications in the digital sphere. Blockchain technology operates as an immutable digital ledger, where each entry representing a digital transaction is indelible and cannot be altered once established. Initially designed as the fundamental framework for cryptocurrencies, blockchain has outgrown its original purpose, demonstrating significant potential in various industries and offering a variety of security and privacy features. Our study provides a thorough and current survey of blockchain applications, security, privacy concepts, primitives, and threat models. It stands out by concentrating on how blockchain technology intersects with emerging fields like IoT, EVs, FinTech, and healthcare systems in a single framework. To provide security and privacy features, blockchain systems employ different foundational notions and primitives while tackling diverse adversarial scenarios with various capabilities and goals. This study presents a fresh examination of the current state of applications, security and privacy notions and primitives, and threat models in blockchain systems. Additionally, this work highlights existing gaps in knowledge and outlines open questions, aiming to stimulate interest in further advancements in the field.

Introduction: Stress is especially profound among minority college students who experience magnified levels of prejudice and discrimination. High levels of stress significantly impact their academic performance, and health. Objective: The present study aimed to examine the constructs of Lazarus and Folkman's transactional theory of stress and coping for stress management in college students from a Hispanic-Serving Institution. Methods: One hundred fifty undergraduate students completed the survey. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to measure the incremental variance accounted for by each predictor set. Results: The final regression model accounted for 56% of the variance in perceived stress scores, a large effect size. In the final model, significant contributors to perceived stress variance were emotion-oriented coping, core self-evaluations, and social support. Implication: These findings can inform the development of effective psychosocial interventions to support minority college students develop personal strengths and social support, buffering against the negative effects during a college mental health crisis.

The Zygocotylidae Ward, 1917 is a compact family of amphistome digeneans that until now comprised 2 genera, each represented by a single species: Zygocotyle lunata (Diesing, 1836) Stunkard, 1916 and Wardius zibethicus Barker and East, 1915 in Barker 1915. Despite highly similar morphology, these genera are separated based on the presence (Zygocotyle) or absence (Wardius) of posterolateral projections (=lappets) on the ventral sucker and esophageal bulb. In the present study, we generated partial large ribosomal subunit (28S), internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) rDNA, and cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) sequences of Z. lunata from several hosts (12 avian and 1 rodent species) throughout North and South America as well as 28S and COI sequences of W. zibethicus from muskrat in North America. The newly generated 28S sequences were used for sequence comparison and phylogenetic analysis. The COI sequences were used for species-level comparisons. Our analysis revealed a close relationship and high sequence similarity between Z. lunata and W. zibethicus. Considering the low morphological and genetic differences, we synonymize ZygocotyleStunkard, 1916 with Wardius Barker and East, 1915 in Barker 1915 and transfer Z. lunata to Wardius as Wardius lunatus (Diesing, 1836) n. comb.

Although digital accessibility topics are increasingly gaining inclusion in university computing classrooms, many instructors still encounter difficulties in engaging students with this subject. The Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework, a pedagogical approach that emphasizes multiple means of engagement, offers a promising strategy to appeal to diverse learning preferences of students. In our study, we applied the UDL framework to design a set of five interactive accessibility games. These games were intended to supplement traditional classroom approaches to teach accessible design. We implemented these games in courses at two public universities, testing them on 236 students. The students not only found the games both educational and engaging, but they also demonstrated a heightened understanding of the software challenges faced by people with disabilities and a greater inclination to include users with disabilities as potential software users. Our findings strongly suggest that the integration of accessibility-focused games into the classroom setting can significantly enhance student learning outcomes.

We present and discuss a curated selection of recent literature related to the application of quantitative techniques, tools, and topics from mathematics and data science that have been used to analyze the mathematical sciences community. We engage in this project with a focus on including research that highlights, documents, or quantifies inequality that exists in the mathematical sciences, specifically, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) more broadly. We seek to enhance social justice in the mathematics and data science communities by providing numerous examples of the ways in which the mathematical sciences fails to meet standards of equity, equal opportunity, and inclusion. We introduce the term “mathematics of Mathematics” for this project, explicitly building upon the growing, interdisciplinary field known as “Science of Science” to interrogate, investigate, and identify the nature of the mathematical sciences itself. We aim to promote, provide, and posit sources of productive collaborations and we invite interested researchers to contribute to this developing body of work.

The impact of Social Media Influencers (SMIs) on tourists’ behaviors and perceptions is growing. This study examines a food tourism marketing campaign by analyzing 52,700 online comments on YouTube and Instagram in response to videos by two SMIs about culinary tourism in Iran. Using frequency content analysis of text and sentiment analysis of emojis, along with insights from an interview with a tour guide who accompanied the SMIs, the study explores how SMIs shape audience perceptions. Grounded in two-step flow theory and social cognitive theory, the findings reveal that SMIs, as credible intermediaries, can positively influence destination and food images through a combination of entertaining and informative content. While influencer marketing helps mitigate some negative effects of broadcast media portrayals, its impact on broader risk perceptions, such as religious, societal, or political concerns, remains limited. These findings contribute to the literature on risk management and destination image by highlighting the role of SMIs in shaping specific aspects of destination perception. The theoretical and managerial implications provide guidance for scholars and practitioners on effectively leveraging influencer marketing to affect travel-related perceptions.

Background The COVID-19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement revealed American society's unconscious bias and systemic discrimination against Black/African Americans and other minority groups, including people with disabilities. These disparities are particularly pronounced for individuals with intersecting identities, such as race, gender, disability, and poverty, leading to racism and ableism. Method This case-control study investigated racial disparities in acceptance rates for state vocational rehabilitation (VR) services among applicants with schizophrenia. Utilizing the U.S. Department of Education Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA-911) dataset for the program year 2018, we compared acceptance rates between Black/African American and White American VR applicants with schizophrenia. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to create a White applicant with schizophrenia (control, n = 2,971) group and a black applicant with schizophrenia (treatment, n = 2,971) group with similar demographic characteristics to control selection bias. Results Our findings indicated no significant difference in VR acceptance rates between the two groups: 73.7% for Black/African Americans with schizophrenia and 72.4% for White Americans with schizophrenia. Conclusions This outcome contrasts with previous studies that suggest racial bias still exist in state VR services. Our findings may indicate that, when selection bias is controlled, acceptance rates for VR services between White Americans and Black/African Americans with disabilities may be comparable. This study contributes to the ongoing dialogue on racial equity in disability services, and it presents an alternative research method for conducting racial difference studies in VR.

Prior studies suggest that strategic alignment in the supply chain (i.e., supply chain partners share similar strategic objectives) helps build trust between the partners, reduce transaction costs, and alleviate coordination problems. We posit that a closer strategic alignment helps strengthen supply chain relationships by making them more durable. We use regulation-mandated major customer disclosures to construct a dataset consisting of supplier-customer dyads to examine this proposition. After controlling for the characteristics of suppliers and customers, we find that greater strategic alignment between suppliers and their customers extends the duration of supply chain relationships. Additionally, we hypothesize that the advantages of strategic alignment should be greater for suppliers in more competitive product markets since customers face lower switching costs when their suppliers are based in industries with more competition. We find support for this hypothesis as well.

The upgrade of the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) in Grenoble, France to an Extremely Brilliant Source (EBS) is expected to enable time-resolved synchrotron serial crystallography (SSX) experiments with sub-millisecond time resolution. ID29 is a new beamline dedicated to SSX experiments at ESRF–EBS. Here, we report experiments emerging from the initial phase of user operation at ID29. We first used microcrystals of photoactive yellow protein as a model system to exploit the potential of microsecond pulses for SSX. Subsequently, we investigated microcrystals of cytochrome c nitrite reductase (ccNiR) with microsecond X-ray pulses. CcNiR is a decaheme protein that is ideal for the investigation of radiation damage at the various heme-iron sites. Finally, we performed a proof-of-concept subsecond time-resolved SSX experiment by photoactivating microcrystals of a myxobacterial phytochrome.