Vermont to the 10th Power
What is Vermont's responsibility in a time of great challenges to the nation? Vermont writer Steve Kiernan argues in a just published essay that it is time for the state to have a more activist government because of dysfunction at the national level.
Healthy Seniors
Vermont placed 8th in the 2019 senior health rankings, a six-place improvement from last year. According to the study, Vermont has improved in behavioral rankings (high activity levels, dental visits, and low smoking rates) and increased food security among the elderly. Vermont’s challenges include a high prevalence of falls, as well as a 16% increase in smoking adults aged 65 and older.
Nighttime driving restrictions
Vermont is still the only state without teen nighttime driving restrictions, despite pressure to expand them after a new study revealed that a third of teen crashes occur during the night. New drivers are currently required to drive 10 of 40 hours at night in order to obtain a Junior Driver’s License. In 2011, 16.6% of all casualties in fatal accidents were teenagers.
General health & breast cancer mortality rates
Breast cancer mortality is directly related to state-level health disparities, a new study finds. The data examined cancer mortality-to-incidence ratios (MIR) in relation to America’s Health Rankings (AHR) from 2010 to 2015 and found significant correlations. Vermont ranked 2nd on America’s 2015 Health Rankings (after Hawaii) and had one of the lowest MIRs in the country. Lower MIRs also correlate with lower health uninsured rates and higher health spending per capita.
Earth Worms
Did you know that most earthworms we find in Vermont soil are invasive species introduced to the landscape in the 18th and 19th centuries? Specifically, species from Asia are threatening Vermont’s hardwood forests. A recent study finds that the reproduction cycle of these worms is unaffected by Vermont’s harsh winter conditions. The research underscores the importance of controlling this population for environmental preservation.
Lyme Disease and pets
Vermont has some of the highest rates of Lyme disease, an illness spread by infected ticks, and your dog may be the answer to reducing these rates. New research from the Companion Animal Parasite Council gives healthcare providers a new and effective way to check for Lyme prevalence by region, through the use of annual dog screenings. This data will allow health officials to identify and monitor specific areas of Vermont with a high percentage of infected ticks.
Expanding AEMT to include IO access
Intraosseous (IO) access, or medication administered directly into bone marrow when intravenous access is not possible, is normally performed solely by paramedics. However, a recent study showed that Advanced Emergency Medical Technicians (AEMTs) and paramedics performed successful adult IOs on Vermont EMS patients at the same rate. This provides the opportunity for expansion of AEMT duties to include IO access.
Adjusting to climate change
The Research on Adaptation to Climate Change project has conducted a study focusing on the water quality of Lake Champlain. The report argues that the Lake Champlain Basin should be viewed as a social-ecological system that is in the process of adjusting to climate change in order to best address the steady decline in water quality.
Starting a business
Vermont is one of the worst places to start a business in the country, ranking #47 in Forbes Best States For Business. This is due in part to Vermont having the smallest state economy in the country, and also business costs that are 12% above the national average. In addition to this, the state’s five-year outlook is weak, with expected decreases in job and income growth.
Growing Grapes in the winter?
A study conducted by UVM researcher Lorraine Berkett seeks to improve Vermont’s wine industry by growing a hardier variety of grapes that are less susceptible to the state’s cold winters. The winegrape cultivars, mostly derived from Minnesota and Cornell, also have greater immunity to disease and are resistant to insects.
Luminescence
A team of researchers from UVM and Dartmouth College have discovered that molecules can produce a new form of luminescence that is bright green in color. This new light could potentially be utilized for different kinds of LED bulbs and medical dyes. Most notably, this discovery involved breaking Kasha’s Rule, a long-established law of chemistry.
Search terms research
The google search, “buy alcohol” is a common question Vermonters plug into their search bars following the word ‘buy’, according to Google Trends data. The study, by U.S. Packaging & Wrapping (USPW), aims to understand the online shopping habits of consumers. Additionally, the findings suggest that Vermonters are not big on online shopping, rating among the top five least interested states.
Certificate of Need laws
A George Mason University study found that when Certificate of Need laws artificially limit the number of health providers in a given area, there is less incentive for them to ensure the quality of service and significantly greater risk of fatality. In 2016 Vermont's 30 Certificate of Need laws was one of the highest numbers in the U.S.
A Gen Z Guide to Inclusivity
In a recently published article, Middlebury Professor Shawna Shapiro explores the linguistic significance of the term, "inclusivity" gaining popularity in the undergraduate lexicon. Shapiro's work, which consists of interviews with Middlebury students, demonstrates a generational semantic shift in the meaning of "inclusivity". For the Generation Z subjects, "inclusivity" is highly connotative, with students defining it as a positive feeling or association. According to Shapiro, these findings may be helpful for teachers in understanding how to better serve Generation Z students.
Anaïs Mitchell wins eight Tony Awards
Believe it or not, singer-songwriter, musician, and playwright Anaïs Mitchell's award-winning musical “Hadestown”, which won in eight categories at the 2019 Tony Awards, was first performed thirteen years ago at Barre’s Old Labor Hall. Born in Montpelier, Mitchell grew up on a farm in Addison County and later attended Middlebury College. “Hadestown” is a modern adaptation on the Greek myth of Orpheus. Read the Seven Days review here.
Elizabeth Powell's Poetry Wins Prize
Poet Elizabeth Powell’s new book of poems entitled Willy Loman’s Reckless Daughter, or Living Truthfully Under Imaginary Circumstances has won the Robert Dana-Anhinga Prize. The poems have been described as dramatic, and confessionally detail her tumultuous childhood, including the sudden death of her father. See the Seven Days review for more details.