University of Vermont

About: University of Vermont is a education organization based out in Burlington, Vermont, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Poison control. The organization has 17592 authors who have published 38251 publications receiving 1609874 citations. The organization is also known as: UVM & University of Vermont and State Agricultural College.

Coping with Family Conflict and Economic Strain: The Adolescent Perspective

Abstract: This study tested two models of family economic problems and adolescent psychological adjustment Using adolescents’ survey data and information regarding school lunch program enrollment, the associations among family SES, perceived economic strain, family conflict, and coping responses were examined in a sample of 364 adolescents from rural New England Two theoretical models were tested using structural equation modeling — one tested coping as a mediator of the stress – psychopathology relation and the other tested coping as a moderator Results revealed that family economic hardship was related to aggression and anxiety/depression primarily through two proximal stressors: perceived economic strain and conflict among family members Family conflict partially mediated the relation between economic strain and adolescent adjustment, and coping further mediated the relation between family conflict and adjustment These analyses identified two types of coping that were associated with fewer anxiety/depression and aggression problems in the face of these stressors — primary and secondary control coping Although primary and secondary control coping were associated with fewer adjustment problems, youth who were experiencing higher amounts of stress tended to use less of these potentially helpful coping strategies and used more of the potentially detrimental disengagement coping The models did not differ according to the age or gender of the adolescents, nor whether they lived with two parents or fewer No support was found for coping as a moderator of stress Implications of these findings and suggestions for future research involving coping with economic stressors are reviewed

Characterization of Households and its Implications for the Vegetation of Urban Ecosystems

Abstract: Our understanding of the dynamics of urban ecosystems can be enhanced by examining the multidimensional social characteristics of households. To this end, we investigated the relative significance of three social theories of household structure—population, lifestyle behavior, and social stratification—to the distribution of vegetation cover in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Our ability to assess the relative significance of these theories depended on fine-scale social and biophysical data. We distinguished among vegetation in three areas hypothesized to be differentially linked to these social theories: riparian areas, private lands, and public rights-of-way (PROWs). Using a multimodel inferential approach, we found that variation of vegetation cover in riparian areas was not explained by any of the three theories and that lifestyle behavior was the best predictor of vegetation cover on private lands. Surprisingly, lifestyle behavior was also the best predictor of vegetation cover in PROWs. The inclusion of a quadratic term for housing age significantly improved the models. Based on these research results, we question the exclusive use of income and education as the standard variables to explain variations in vegetation cover in urban ecological systems. We further suggest that the management of urban vegetation can be improved by developing environmental marketing strategies that address the underlying household motivations for and participation in local land management.

Hepatitis C Virus Genotypes in the United States: Epidemiology, Pathogenicity, and Response to Interferon Therapy

Abstract: Objective To study 1) the geographic distribution and clinical significance of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes in the United States and 2) the influence of HCV genotypes on response to interferon therapy. Design Hepatitis C virus genotype was determined in 179 stored serum samples obtained from patients who were positive for antibody to HCV and for HCV RNA by using polymerase chain reaction. Setting Tertiary referral centers in four geographic regions of the United States. Patients Patients who visited medical centers in the Midwest (50 patients), Northeast (42 patients), Southeast (35 patients), and West (52 patients). Measurements Chaotropic lysis and isopropanol precipitation were used to extract RNA from serum. Polymerase chain reaction was done on the NS5 region and was followed by automated direct sequencing and genotyping of desalted amplification products. Results 104 patients (58%) had subtype 1a; 38 (21%) had subtype 1b; 4 (2%) had subtype 2a; 23 (13%) had subtype 2b; 8 (5%) had subtype 3a; and 2 (1%) had subtype 4a. Examination of the known risk factors for acquiring HCV showed no association between genotype and mode of acquisition (blood transfusion, injection drug use, employment at a health care facility) or histologic findings at presentation (mild active hepatitis, moderately active hepatitis, or cirrhosis). Sixty-eight percent of patients with genotype 1a, 80% of patients with genotype 1b, and 37% of patients with genotype 2a or 2b had severe hepatitis. Thirteen of 46 (28%) patients with genotype 1a and 4 of 15 (26%) patients with genotype 1b had a complete biochemical response after 6 months of interferon therapy. In contrast, 10 of 14 (71%) patients with genotype 2a or 2b had a complete response to interferon therapy. Five of 39 (13%) patients with genotype 1a, 1 of 14 (7%) patients with genotype 1b, and 2 of 11 (18%) patients with genotype 2a or 2b had a sustained biochemical response. Conclusions In the United States, HCV genotypes 1a and 1b are the predominant genotypes in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Genotype is not correlated with mode of virus acquisition or with histologic findings at presentation. Patients with HCV genotype 1a or 1b had more severe liver disease and lower rates of response to interferon therapy than did patients with HCV genotype 2a or 2b. These findings may have implications for predicting outcome and selecting patients for interferon treatment.

Pharmacology and functions of receptors for vasoactive intestinal peptide and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide: IUPHAR review 1.

Abstract: Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) are members of a superfamily of structurally related peptide hormones that includes glucagon, glucagon-like peptides, secretin, gastric inhibitory peptide (GIP) and growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH). VIP and PACAP exert their actions through three GPCRs – PAC1, VPAC1 and VPAC2– belonging to class B (also referred to as class II, or secretin receptor-like GPCRs). This family comprises receptors for all peptides structurally related to VIP and PACAP, and also receptors for parathyroid hormone, corticotropin-releasing factor, calcitonin and related peptides. PAC1 receptors are selective for PACAP, whereas VPAC1 and VPAC2 respond to both VIP and PACAP with high affinity. VIP and PACAP play diverse and important roles in the CNS, with functions in the control of circadian rhythms, learning and memory, anxiety and responses to stress and brain injury. Recent genetic studies also implicate the VPAC2 receptor in susceptibility to schizophrenia and the PAC1 receptor in post-traumatic stress disorder. In the periphery, VIP and PACAP play important roles in the control of immunity and inflammation, the control of pancreatic insulin secretion, the release of catecholamines from the adrenal medulla and as co-transmitters in autonomic and sensory neurons. This article, written by members of the International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology Committee on Receptor Nomenclature and Drug Classification (NC-IUPHAR) subcommittee on receptors for VIP and PACAP, confirms the existing nomenclature for these receptors and reviews our current understanding of their structure, pharmacology and functions and their likely physiological roles in health and disease. More detailed information has been incorporated into newly revised pages in the IUPHAR database (http://www.iuphar-db.org/DATABASE/FamilyMenuForward?familyId=67). LINKED ARTICLES This article is part of a themed section on Secretin Family (Class B) G Protein-Coupled Receptors. To view the other articles in this section visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2012.166.issue-1