Threadless fastener apparatus Patent

Threadless fastener apparatus comprising receiving apertures for plurality of articles, self-locked condition, and capable of using nonmalleable materials in both end

African American Males and Issues of Fatherhood: An Examination of the Sweat Lodge as a Psychosocial and Spiritual Intervention

The emasculation of African American men is illustrated by disparities in the criminal justice system, education, employment, income, and health care, which has an impact on an African American man\u27s ability to be a father. Researchers, policy-makers, and practitioners have struggled with establishing sustainable programs that address the complex issues that face African American men, especially when they have children (Martinson & Nightingale 2008). The emergence of the Sweat Lodge as an intervention for Native Americans has had some promising results (Cohen, 2003; Edwards, 2003, Noe, Fleming & Manson 2003; Smith, 2005). However, there is limited research on the Sweat Lodge for non-native populations, specifically, African American men. This phenomenon was investigated through the lens of 18 African American males in order to gain greater understanding of how participation in the Sweat Lodge has shaped their development as men and fathers. The primary philosophies that framed this study were the African-centered paradigm (Akbar, 1995, 1998; Asante, 1990, Karanga, 1993; Nobbles & Goddard, 1993); Ryan and Deci\u27s (2006) theory of self-determination theory; Brofenbrenner\u27s (1979, 2004) bio-ecological model of human development, and Generative-fathering (Erikson, 1982; Snarey, 1993). Data were derived from a demographic survey, co-researches\u27 responses to semi-structured focus group and individual interview guides, and the researcher\u27s personal observations and interactions. Seven over arching themes organize meaning and create knowledge of the lived experience of African American males who participated in the Sweat Lodge: initial reactions; changing of worldviews; self reflection; process of confirmation, application, healing and wellbeing; and knowledge and respect for nature. The findings illuminated key indicators of the lived experience for African American males: acknowledging other perspectives, considering alternative information and making a choice to participate in the Sweat Lodge. African American men were able to redefine themselves and were better equipped to engage in productive and rewarding relationships with their children and significant others as a result of Sweat Lodge participation. Finally, the results provided significant evidence that spirit, universal and inclusive, is central to the Sweat Lodge functioning as a psychosocial and spiritual intervention. In light of these findings, researchers, policy-makers and practitioners can create sustainable programs that truly address the needs of African American men

Applying Imidacloprid Via a Precision Banding System to Control Striped Cucumber Beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in Cucurbits

The striped cucumber beetle, Acalymma vittatum (F.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), is a key pest of cucurbit crops throughout its range. A novel precision band applicator was designed to inject a solid stream of imidacloprid solution in-furrow directly over the seed during planting to reduce beetle leaf feeding on pumpkin, zucchini, and cucumber crops. In 2004 and 2005, bioassays at the cotyledon through fifth leaf were conducted on striped cucumber beetles using seedling leaf tissue grown from seeds treated using both continuous and precision banded in-furrow imidacloprid solution applications. In 2004, 80% of bioassay trials had treatments with beetle mortality significantly higher than the check, whereas 70% of the bioassay trials showed no significant difference in mortality between continuous in-furrow and precision banded treatments. In 2005, 79% of bioassay trials had treatments with beetle mortality significantly higher than the check, whereas 100% of the bioassays showed no significant difference in beetle mortality between continuous in-furrow and precision banded treatments at the same insecticide rate. The environmental savings of precision banded treatments compared with continuous in-furrow treatment reduced imidacloprid up to 84.5% on a per hectare basis for all cucurbits tested in 2004 and 2005, translating into an economic savings up to 030215/ha. In separate bioassay trials conducted in 2005 on pumpkin, where insecticide band length and injection volume were manipulated independently, several treatments had significantly higher beetle mortality than the check. There was a trend of increased beetle mortality in treatments using shorter band lengths combined with higher insecticide solution volumes

An Exploratory Study of The Perceptions of Footwear for Individuals who use Lower Limb Orthotics

The purpose of this study was to explore individual’s perceptions of orthotics and footwear. A survey was created by the authors with the expert opinions of physical and occupational therapists and was distributed to two therapy clinics in Tennessee that provide both occupational therapy and physical therapy as well as on several online support groups. Seventy-nine (79) caregivers completed surveys. Thematic analysis was performed using Nvivo 10 (QSR International) and descriptive statistics were generated using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) IBM International). Ninety percent (90%) of participants report that orthotics affect what type of shoes the user can wear. Eighty-two percent (82%) report that it is difficult to shop for shoes that accommodate orthotics. Sixty-one percent (61%) report that the user would be more likely to wear their orthotics if they had more options of shoes to wear. Fifty-nine percent (59%) report that the user would be more likely to wear their orthotics if they had shoes that were more attractive. The importance of collaborating with consumers when designing products is essential for the success of both the individual and the product

Family support and cardiac rehabilitation: A comparative study of the experiences of South Asian and White-European patients and their carer's living in the United Kingdom

Background: Effective lifestyle modification facilitated by cardiac rehabilitation is known to reduce the occurrence of adverse coronary events and mortality. South Asians have poorer outcomes after a myocardial infarction than the general UK population, but little is known about their experiences of family support, cardiac rehabilitation and lifestyle change. Aims: To explore the nature of family support available to a sample of South Asian and White-European cardiac patients and to highlight similarities and differences between these groups with regard to cardiac rehabilitation and lifestyle modification. Methods: Using a qualitative approach, semi-structured interviews (in 1 of 6 languages) were conducted by researchers with; 45 South Asian patients and 37 carers and 20 White-European patients and 17 carers. Interviews were conducted in a home setting, up to eighteen months after discharge from hospital following myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass surgery or unstable angina. Results: The main themes that emerged related to the provision of advice and information, family support and burden, dietary change and exercise regimes. Conclusions: Several cultural and ethnic differences were identified between patients and their families alongside similarities, irrespective of ethnicity. These may represent generic characteristics of recovery after a cardiac event. Health professionals should develop a cultural repertoire to engage with diversity and difference. Not every difficulty a person encounters as they try to access appropriate service delivery can be attributed to ethnic background. By improving services generally, support for South Asian populations can be improved. The challenge is to know when ethnicity makes a difference and mediates a person's relationship with service support and when it does not. (C) 2007 European Society of Cardiology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Phase Evolution and Li Diffusion in LATP Solid-State Electrolyte Synthesized via a Direct Heat-Cycling Method

Herein, the direct synthesis of phase-pure lithium aluminum titanium phosphate (Li_{1.3}Al_{0.3}Ti_{1.7}(PO_{4})_{3}, LATP) solid-electrolyte powder in 220 min and relatively low temperatures (850 °C) is achieved via a new (cyclic) fast heat treatment (c-FHT) route. The complex structural evolution highlights rate-limited lithium incorporation of intermediate metal phosphates formed prior to the final phase-pure LATP. The prepared LATP product powder displays similar bulk (2 × 10^{−10} cm^{2} s^{−1}) and local (3 × 10^{−10} cm^{2} s^{−1}) values for lithium diffusion coefficients (D_{Li}) characterized by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and muon spin relaxation (μSR), respectively. The similarity between both D_{Li} values suggests excellent retention of inter- and intraparticle lithium diffusion, which is attributed to the absence of deleterious surface impurities such as AlPO4. A low-energy barrier (E_{a} = 73 meV) of lithium diffusion is also estimated from the μSR data

Continuous Hydrothermal Synthesis of Metal Germanates (M₂GeO₄ ; M = Co, Mn, Zn) for High Capacity Negative Electrodes in Li‐ion Batteries

Nanosized metal germanates (M2GeO4; M = Co, Mn, Zn) were synthesised using a continuous hydrothermal flow synthesis process for the first time. Phase‐pure rhombohedral Zn2GeO4 nanorods, cubic spinel Co2GeO4 nanoparticles, and orthorhombic Mn2GeO4 nanotubes/nanoparticles were obtained. The electrochemical properties of all samples as active materials for negative electrodes in Li‐ion half cells was explored. The galvanostatic and potentiodynamic testing was conducted in the potential range 3.00 to 0.05 V vs. Li/Li+. The results suggest that both alloying and conversion reactions associated with Ge contributed to the stored charge capacity; Zn2GeO4 showed a high specific capacity of 600 mAh g-1 (10 cycles at 0.1 A g -1) due to alloying and conversion reactions for both Ge and Zn. Mn2GeO4 was studied for the first time as a potential negative electrode material in a Li‐ion half‐cell; an excellent specific charge capacity of 510 mAh g-1 (10 cycles / 0.1 A g-1) was obtained with a significant contribution to charge arising from the conversion reaction of Mn to MnO upon delithiation. In contrast, Co2GeO4 only showed a specific capacity of 240 mAh g-1, after 10 cycles at the same current rate, which suggested that cobalt had little or no benefit for enhancing stored charge in the germanate

Tailoring the Charge/Discharge Potentials and Electrochemical Performance of SnO₂ Lithium‐Ion Anodes by Transition Metal Co‐Doping

It has been shown that the introduction of several transition metal (TM) dopants into SnO2 lithium‐ion battery anodes can overcome the issues associated with the irreversible capacity loss from the conversion reaction of SnO2 and the aggregation of the metallic Sn particles formed upon lithiation. As the choice of the single dopant, however, plays a decisive role for the achievable energy density – precisely its redox potential – we investigate herein TM co‐doped SnO2, prepared by using a readily scalable continuous hydrothermal flow synthesis (CHFS) process, to tailor the dis‐/charge profile and by this the energy density. It is shown that the judicious choice of different elemental doping combinations in samples made via CHFS simultaneously improves the cycling performance and the full‐cell energy density. To support these findings, we realized a lithium‐ion full‐cell incorporating the best performing co‐doped SnO2 as negative electrode and high‐voltage LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 (LNMO) as positive electrode–to the best of our knowledge, the first full‐cell based on such anode material in combination with LNMO as cathode active material