Exploring Four Modes of Responding to Undergraduate Writing

A study exploring four modes of giving feedback to student writing in a first-year composition course. The focus discusses ways the different modes impact student writing and revision. It also examines one classroom where each of these modes were implemented, how these different modes were implemented, and the outcome of each mode on student attitudes toward the writing and revision process

Respiratory therapies for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A primer

Respiratory complications are a common cause of morbidity and mortality in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Treatment of respiratory insufficiency with noninvasive ventilation (NIV) improves ALS patients' quality of life and survival. Evidence‐based practice guidelines for the management of ALS patients recommend treatment of respiratory insufficiency with NIV as well as consideration of insufflation/exsufflation to improve clearance of airway secretions. Despite these recommendations respiratory therapies remain underused. In this review we provide a practical guide for the clinician to prescribe and manage respiratory therapies for the patient with ALS. Muscle Nerve 46: 313–331, 2012Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/93524/1/23282_ftp.pd

Implementing supply chain partnering in the construction industry

Although much research has been conducted about advantages and challenges for supply chain partnering (SCP) in the construction sector, focus has been mostly on formal aspects of implementation within organizations. Understanding social aspects, however, might be just as crucial to implementation of SCP as understanding managerial and intraorganizational dynamics. Therefore, this paper presents the results of a study in which a work floor professional together with a researcher tried to contribute to the implementation of SCP within the maintenance and refurbishment processes of a Dutch housing association. The results showed that stakeholders could not come to shared understanding of strategic needs, and that that pattern influences and was influenced by social aspects such as leadership and trust, which confirms the importance of explicit attention for social interactions at work floor level for successful implementation of supply chain partnering

Sustainable Neighbourhood Transformation

Urban renewal through the large-scale restructuring of post-war neighbourhoods is a major challenge throughout Europe in the decades ahead. Current urban restructuring programmes in the Netherlands focus on the demolition and replacement of the existing housing stock. The motivation behind this strategy is creating a better social mix between ‘poor’ and ‘better-off’ households, to improve the general quality of the housing stock and to create a financially viable restructuring programme. The general aim is to improve various aspects of sustainability in urban neighbourhoods. Are demolition and replacement strategies the most effective and efficient way to achieve this objective? In this book, we examine the effects of demolition and replacement strategies on sustainability from different perspectives. An economic perspective: the market position and the value of the neighbourhoods, a social perspective: the levels of social capital and residential stability, and an environmental perspective: the energy efficiency and the use of materials in restructuring strategies

Novel mutations in the anoctamin 5 gene ( ANO5 ) associated with limb‐girdle muscular dystrophy 2L

Introduction: We present a Jordanian man with the typical LGMD 2L phenotype of early, asymmetric quadriceps weakness and subsequent biceps brachii weakness. Methods: Case report. Results: Muscle biopsies document a progressive dystrophic pattern unrelated to known sarcolemmal defects associated with muscular dystrophy. Genetic testing revealed novel, heterozygote Anoctamin 5 gene mutations. Conclusions: This case report expands the known mutations resulting in LGMD 2L and supports the assertion that Anoctamin 5 mutations are more prevalent than previously recognized. Muscle Nerve, 2013Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/96310/1/23542_ftp.pd

An Inquiry into some Relationships Between Church Attendance and School Participation Beyond Regular Classroom Activity

145 leaves. Advisor: Robert L. EvansThe problem. The purpose of this study was to determine if certain relationships exist between students' frequency of attendance at church and grades, involvement in school sponsored activities, and certain social characteristics in their school lives. Procedure. The study was conducted in the ninth grade social science classes at a junior high school in Iowa. It included all ninth grade students. This sample provided a good cross section because of a wide variation in incomes, professions of parents, fairly wide geographical area of the city, and numerous national and religious backgrounds. The population was limited by the small number of either black or Jewish students that have been observed to attend that school. There was a large group of Latino students. However, since the problem was to identify relationships between school participation and church attedance, it was a sample that gave a good indication of churched and non-churched students. An inventory was designed by the researcher in consultation with Drake faculty members to gather data. The instruments were screened for usefulness on each of the questions asked. The Chi-square test of independence was applied to the data generated on each of the questions asked relating to school activities tabled against the frequency of church attendance. A significance of 0.05 was assumed. Findings. Each of the three questions stated above was investigated through the use of null hypotheses. In all cases except one, a significant relationsh1p was found between the frequency of church attendance and the specific item of each null hypothesis. The exception was the frequency which students reported they felt good about themselves. The study includes results of the Chi-square tests for the entire group and also for the compar1son of those who attend church more than once per week to the balance of the sample, those who never attend church to balance of the sample, and those who attend church more than once per week to those who never attend church. Results are reported a1so for the whole group of a test instrument administer before the inventory and to a different group. The following results indicate the level of significance found for the whole group on the inventory. Question 1. Do church goers receive higher grades? It was found that the level of significance between the frequency of church attendance and the grade point average was positive at the 0.00l level and that a positive relationship also existed with reference to honor roll membership at the 0.02 level. Question 2. Are church goers more involved in school activities? A positive relationship was found at the 0.001 level between the frequency of church attendance and frequency of attendance at extra-curricular, athletic, vocal music, instrumental music, and school service activities. It was also found that in each of the above activities there was a positive relationship between the frequency of church attendance and the number of groups of that activity in which students participated at the 0.001 level except that a 0.01 level was found for athletics. Question 3. Do church goers have certain different social characteristics in their school life? A significance level of 0.001 was found for the frequency of church attendance and fewer absences from school, more frequent enjoyment of school, the number of students planning to go on a class trip, and less frequent discipline. Church goers received less severe discipline as indicated by a 0.05 level. The frequency of feeling good about themselves was at the 0.1 confidence level and indicated a positive relationship. Conclusions. On the basis of this study it is concluded that church goers do get higher grades, are more involved in school activities, and do have certain different social characteristics than non church goers. The most consistent indications of significance occur in terms of comparison of the whole sample to those who never attend church. Any church attendance does affect the grades, participation and social characteristics of the students. Recommendations. Further studies should be conducted to determine which churches show the greatest relationship to the school participation; what practices are seemingly most beneficial in a total church program to school participation; if other non-school institutions also have an effect on school participation; there is indeed a causal relationship between church attendance and school participation; what input the school may have on the students' church participation; and what is the nature of the students' activities at church relative to their school participation

The risk of hematoma following extensive electromyography of the lumbar paraspinal muscles

Introduction: The purpose of this study is to provide a controlled trial looking at the risk of paraspinal hematoma formation following extensive paraspinal muscle electromyography. Methods: 54 subjects ages 55–80 underwent MRI of the lumbar spine before or shortly after electromyography using the paraspinal mapping technique. A neuroradiologist, blinded to the temporal relationship between the EMG and MRI, reviewed the MRIs to look for hematomas in or around the paraspinal muscles. Results: Two MRIs demonstrated definite paraspinal hematomas, while 10 were found to have possible hematomas. All hematomas were < 15 mm, and none were close to any neural structures. There was no relationship between MRI evidence of hematoma and either the timing of the EMG or the use of aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs. Conclusions: Paraspinal electromyography can be considered safe in the general population and those taking nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs. Muscle Nerve 46:26–30, 2012Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/92008/1/23288_ftp.pd

Familial melanoma

Review on Familial melanoma, with data on clinics, and the genes involved

Reduced Interhemispheric Functional Connectivity in the Motor Cortex during Rest in Limb-Onset Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder of motor neurons that leads to paralysis and eventually death. There is evidence that atrophy occurs in the primary motor cortex (M1), but it is unclear how the disease affects the intrinsic connectivity of this structure. Thus, the goal of this study was to examine interhemispheric coupling of low frequency blood-oxygen-level dependent (BOLD) signal fluctuations in M1 using functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging during rest. Because disease progression is rapid, high-functioning patients were recruited to assess neural changes in the relatively early stages of ALS. Twenty patients with limb-onset ALS participated in this study. A parceling technique was employed to segment both precentral gyri into multiple regions of interest (ROI), thus increasing sensitivity to detect changes that exist along discretely localized regions of the motor cortex. We report an overall systemic decrease in functional connectivity between right and left motor cortices in patients with limb-onset ALS. Additionally, we observed a pronounced disconnection between dorsal ROI pairs in the ALS group compared to the healthy control group. Furthermore, measures of limb functioning correlated with the connectivity data from dorsal ROI pairs in the ALS group, suggesting a symptomatic relationship with interhemispheric M1 connectivity