9547 research outputs found
Sort by
Inhibition of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Virulence factor, PlcH, by Host-derived Lipids
No full textPseudomonas aeruginosa is a bacterial pathogen that has high prevalence in cystic fibrosis patients. An important virulence factor of this pathogen is the hemolytic phospholipase C, PlcH, that functions in the hemolysis of cell membranes. Sphingomyelin is a major sphingolipid found in cell membranes that is hydrolyzed by PlcH. Other sphingolipids that share a common backbone with sphingosine interact with PlcH as well, sometimes leading to PlcH inhibition. Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is one of these inhibitory sphingolipids, discovered in the Wargo lab to have a large inhibitory effect on PlcH. While computational models have been constructed to analyze this binding interaction, there is still a lot not understood about it. In this study, I analyze a variety of sphingolipids that share a common backbone with sphingosine and S1P. Under conditions allowing for the measurement of enzyme activity, I measured the percent inhibition occurring under varying concentrations of these lipids. In addition to this, I constructed four P. aeruginosa PlcH mutants to determine the importance of specific binding interactions. Lipids with shorter hydrocarbon tails were noted to have lower inhibition of PlcH, as well as those with phosphono-bonded phosphate heads. The four mutants had differential results, including Trp114 which is potentially an important interaction residue in PlcH to bind S1P.Biolog
Effects of depleting CEP41 in Paramecia
No full textUndergraduateParamecium tetraurelia are model microorganisms that can live in pond water, using cilia in gathering their food and nutrients, in addition to movement. These cilia covered eukaryotes are powerful experimental organisms due to their fast doubling times, high number of offspring, annotated genome, and commonly used for RNA interference studies. Within the Paramecium tetraurelia, we specifically looked at the CEP41 gene. This specific gene plays an important role in intracellular transport of tubulin and the function of cilia in other organisms. Paramecium tetraurelia rely on cilia for motility, indicating that if CEP41 was depleted the swimming movements or patterns of paramecia would be altered. In the course of this experiment, we took IPTG and induced the HtII5 cells and fed them to the Paramecium tetraurelia, releasing double stranded RNA. The double stranded RNA induces a silencing of the targeted messenger RNA.. To measure the effects of CEP41 we used semi quantitative RT PCR to examine mRNA levels and used immunostaining to give us a better interpretation of our results. Specifically, if this gene is downregulated we expect to observe the paramecia to have difficulty in movement, directing food particles, and changes in swimming patterns
Us Unparadised
No full textThesis will transform and adapt John Milton’s Paradise Lost into a work of theater. Milton’s original plan for his epic poem was to create a closet drama called “Adam Unparadised.” This fully realized play will honor Milton’s initial idea while introducing modern theatrical techniques that build both on the dramatic aspects of the completed poem and on critical responses to it. The play will highlight Books IV, IX, and X with special attentions to the separation colloquy, the transgression, fall, and aftermath. Subverting “Adam Unparadised,” the piece will challenge the androcentrism of Paradise Lost with a distinct affinity for Eve.Englis
Sustainable Agricultural Practices, Resilience, & Food Security Among Small Scale Farming Households in Uganda: Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic
No full textDespite record-high global food production, nearly a billion people experienced severe food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the majority in sub-Saharan Africa. Promoting sustainable agriculture in this region can enhance food security and resilience to external shocks while reducing environmental impacts and reliance on expensive inputs. This thesis will focus on Uganda, where agriculture is the main income source for many rural poor, and most of the food comes from small, diverse farms, making them vulnerable to climate change and food insecurity.In Article 1, we examine the relationship between Sustainable Agricultural Practices (SAPs) and food security using data from the 2019-2020 Ugandan National Panel Survey (UNPS). We specifically analyzed the impact of three SAPs: Intercropping, Fallow, and Organic Fertilizer. Findings suggest that the adoption of Fallow or Organic Fertilizer is significantly and positively linked to food security. Furthermore, adopting multiple SAPs has an even greater impact on food security. In Article 2, we examined the relationship between the pre-COVID-19 use of SAPs and food security in small-scale farming households during the COVID-19 pandemic. We utilized UNPS surveys in conjunction with 12 rounds of the High Frequency Phone Surveys on COVID-19 (HFPS) to conduct our analysis. While we selected the same SAPs, we employed a different measure of food security, the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES), for a more comprehensive assessment of the intensity of food availability. To analyze the data, we employed a novel method that combined Household Fixed Effects regression with a Double-Hurdle model, as we found that different factors may be associated with the presence of food insecurity and its intensity. The results indicated that the intensity of SAP use was negatively and significantly associated with food insecurity, and that this effect increased in the latter rounds of the COVID-19 pandemic. Increased investment in extension services that support Sustainable Agricultural Practices (SAPs) could significantly benefit long-term environmental and resilience outcomes. Additionally, allocating resources for research endeavors in Uganda, gathering detailed data on SAPs, and integrating comprehensive measures and innovative methods to assess various dimensions of food security could provide a clearer understanding of how to support the livelihoods of small-scale farmers both now and in the future.Community Development and Applied EconomicsMaster of Science (MS
Regulation of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulence factor by host lipids
No full textUndergraduateThe bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes many severe infections including, but not limited to, pneumonia, keratitis, and bacteremia. Many of those infected are in healthcare facilities and are susceptible due to underlying disease conditions, and it is also common in chronic lung diseases like cystic fibrosis (CF). P. aeruginosa has many virulence factors, including CerN, whose transcript is induced by the presence of various lipids. My research focuses on determining the specific lipids that induce CerN in order to better understand this virulence factor
Enhancing patients’ understanding and risk perception of pathology reports using artificial intelligence
No full textMedical StudentsPatients increasingly access pathology reports through electronic health records, yet often struggle with medical jargon. This project evaluated whether ChatGPT, an AI language model, could improve patient comprehension and risk perception. A sample colonoscopy report was simplified using ChatGPT and assessed via surveys of 208 patients and 33 pathologists. While 83% of patients found the summary helpful, pathologists noted omissions and inflated risk scores. These findings suggest AI can support patient understanding, but clinical oversight is essential to ensure accuracy, prevent misinformation, and responsibly integrate AI tools into medical communication
2024 Industrial Grain Hemp Variety Trial
No full textHemp is a non-psychoactive variety of Cannabis sativa L. The crop is one of historical importance in the U.S. and reemerging in worldwide importance as manufacturers seek hemp as a renewable and sustainable resource for a wide variety of consumer and industrial products. The crop produces a valuable oilseed, rich in Omega-3, and other essential fatty acids that are often absent in western diets. When the oil is extracted from the seed, what remains is a marketable meal co-product, which can be used for human and animal consumption or as a natural soil amendment. The fiber has high tensile strength and can be used to create cloth, rope, building materials, and bioplastics. For twenty years, U.S. entrepreneurs have been importing hemp from China, Eastern Europe, and Canada. Today, industrial hemp is re-emerging as a locally grown product in the U.S. To help farmers succeed, agronomic research on hemp is needed, as much of the historical production knowledge for the region has been lost. In this trial, hemp grain varieties were evaluated to determine suitable cultivars for the region
Patient Education of Non-operative Management of Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis
No full textArthritis is a group of diseases that causes joint pain and requires long-term management. 22.5 million adults in the U.S meet criteria for osteoarthritis. 92% of these patients see their primary care physician for OA. Yet, only 6-25% receive care from a specialist. As a result, there is significant patient confusion regarding diagnosis, prognosis, management, and prevention, as well as a lack of understanding of treatment options. Patients have consistently indicated the desire for more information delivered clearly from multiple sources of health information. More effective communication strategies and visual aids are require
Empowering Innovation: Expanding USPTO Outreach to Support Vermont's Entrepreneurs and Inventors
No full textThis presentation will show how the USPTO Patent and Trademark Resource Center (PTRC) at the University of Vermont can be a resource for your library and patrons. UVM’s engineering and business librarians will describe the PTRC's research services and how they can support inventors and entrepreneurs in your community.Presentation at the Vermont Libraries Association Annual Conference, May 19, 2025, Killington, VT
US Government Planning and US Soldiers’ Opinions at the End of the Second World War: Different Visions for a Post-War Order?
No full textThis paper examines if US soldiers and US policymakers had similar or different visions for postwar Western Europe during WWII. The purpose of this study is to not only examine the interests and visions between these two actors, but to incorporate the voice and opinions of the US soldier in the ETO into the story of US postwar planning for Europe’s ‘postwar miracle’. The paper argues that the US soldier’s perspective should not be seen as the "arm and aims" of the state but instead may be a crucial factor for the future of effective US military interventions. Using both quantitative data from the American Soldier Project, and qualitative data from declassified documents from Foreign Relations of the United Sates Diplomatic Papers, this study argues that US soldiers and US policymakers shared more similar than different visions for the postwar order in Western Europe.Histor