Rheological Characterization of Liquid Polymers Containing Ceramic Nanopowders for Use in Thermoelectric Devices.

We have determined shear viscosities as a function of temperature for several liquid high temperature polymers (HTPs) as potential coatings for solid state thermoelectric generators (TEGs) as well as for TE coolers (TECs). To each HTP we added in turn several ceramic nanopowders: alumina, silica and multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The shear rate applied range is from 0.

The baby boomer effect: changing patterns of substance abuse among adults ages 55 and older.

Between now and 2030, the number of adults aged 65 and older in the United States will almost double, from around 37 million to more than 70 million, an increase from 12% of the U.S. population to almost 20%.

Substance use and social identity in the lesbian community.

Although the study results report discrepancies in the rates of substance abuse in the lesbian community, the general consensus in the field of gay and lesbian studies is that these individuals, as a whole, have a higher rate of substance use. For this study, data were collected via the Internet on the use of drugs and alcohol, level of self-esteem, and degree of social identity in the lesbian community. A correlation analysis was used to determine if negative social identity within the lesbian community leads to low self-esteem that is reflected in higher rates of substance abuse.

A case-control analysis of felony convictions among recreational drug users.

This study applied an epidemiologic case-control design to the identification of variables predicting which subjects in a population of recreational drug users were likely to have a felony conviction. A sample of 158 self-identified drug users responded to the web-based DRUGNET survey from February, 1997 through June, 1998. In this sample of 704 U.

Using Internet-based surveys to reach hidden populations: case of nonabusive illicit drug users.

Objective: To examine the potential of surveys delivered via the World Wide Web (WWW) as a method for reaching hidden populations such as that of nonabusive users of illicit drugs.

Methods: Past and current approaches to collecting data from hidden populations were reviewed.

Results: A number of approaches have been used in the past efforts to reach drug users but the use of the WWW has produced the largest sample of successful illicit drug users ever surveyed.